See main article: 2012 Scottish local elections.
| Election Name: | 2012 West Dunbartonshire Council election |
| Country: | Scotland |
| Type: | parliamentary |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2007 West Dunbartonshire Council election |
| Previous Year: | 2007 |
| Next Election: | 2017 West Dunbartonshire Council election |
| Next Year: | 2017 |
| Seats For Election: | All 22 seats to West Dunbartonshire Council |
| Majority Seats: | 12 |
| 3Blank: | Swing (pp)--> |
| Party1: | Scottish Labour Party |
| Last Election1: | 10 seats, 45.5% |
| Leaders Seat1: | Lomond |
| Seats Before1: | 8 |
| Seats Needed1: | 12 |
| Seats1: | 12 |
| Seat Change1: | 2 |
| Leader2: | Jonathan McColl |
| Party2: | Scottish National Party |
| Leaders Seat2: | Lomond |
| Last Election2: | 9 seats, 40.9% |
| Seats Before2: | 9 |
| Seats Needed2: | 3 |
| Seats2: | 6 |
| Seat Change2: | 3 |
| Leader4: | George Black |
| Party4: | Independent (politician) |
| Leaders Seat4: | Dumbarton |
| Last Election4: | 2 seats, 9.1% |
| Seats Before4: | 3 |
| Seats Needed4: | 10 |
| Seats4: | 3 |
| Seat Change4: | 1 |
| Leader5: | Jim Bollan |
| Party5: | Scottish Socialist Party |
| Leaders Seat5: | Leven |
| Last Election5: | 1 seat, 4.6% |
| Seats Before5: | 1 |
| Seats Needed5: | 11 |
| Seats5: | 1 |
| Seat Change5: | 0 |
| Map Size: | 200px |
| Map Alt: | West Dunbartonshire Council composition |
| Council Leader | |
| Before Election: | Ronnie McColl defeated |
| Before Party: | Scottish National Party |
| Posttitle: | Council Leader after election |
| After Election: | Martin Rooney |
| After Party: | Scottish Labour Party |
Elections to West Dunbartonshire Council were held on 3 May 2012 on the same day as the 31 other local authorities in Scotland. The election used the six wards created under the Local Governance (Scotland) Act 2004, with 22 Councillors being elected. Each ward elected either 3 or 4 members, using the STV electoral system.
The election saw the Scottish Labour Party gain 2 seats to secure an overall majority on the Council while also significantly increasing their vote. The Scottish National Party remained in second place on the Council but West Dunbartonshire proved to be their worst performance in Scotland as they lost 3 seats including that of their former Council leader, Ronnie McColl. Independents increased their seat numbers to 3 through the addition of former Labour Councillor and the Scottish Socialist Party retained their sole seat in Scotland.
Following the election the Labour majority administration was formed. This replaced the previous SNP minority led administration which had been supported by the Independents that had existed from 2007-2012.
[1] Note: "Votes" are the first preference votes. The net gain/loss and percentage changes relate to the result of the previous Scottish local elections on 3 May 2007. This may differ from other published sources showing gain/loss relative to seats held at dissolution of Scotland's councils.