The election was the first one using six new wards created as a result of the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004,[3] each elected three or four councillors using the single transferable vote system form of proportional representation.

On 3 November 2008, Clydebank Waterfront Cllr Marie McNair resigned from the Labour Party and then sat as an Independent.

On 2 February 2009, Clydebank Central Cllr Willie McLaughlin resigned from the Labour Party and sat as an Independent until 30 March 2011, when he sat as a member of Ban Bankers' Bonuses.

Labour's Margaret Bootland resigned due to ill health in December 2010.

The by-election was won by Labour's Lawrence O'Neill on 3 March 2011