Page "Burgh" Paragraph 14

The Royal Burghs Act provided for the election of magistrates and councillors.

Each burgh was to have a common council consisting of a provost ( or lord provost ), magistrates ( or bailies ) and councillors.

Every parliamentary elector living within the " royalty " or area of the royal burgh, or within seven statute miles of its boundary, was entitled to vote in burgh elections.

One third of the common council was elected each year.

The councillors selected a number of their members to be bailies, who acted as a magistrates bench for the burgh, and dealt with such issues as licensing.

The provost, or chief magistrate, was elected from among the council every three years.

The Royal Burghs Act was also extended to the 12 parliamentary burghs which had recently been enfranchised.

These were growing industrial centres, and apart from the lack of a charter, they had identical powers and privileges to the royal burghs.

Royal Burghs retained the right to corporate property or " common good ".

This property was used for the advantage of the inhabitants of the burgh, funding such facilities as public parks, museums and civic events.