Aberdeen City Council is preparing to find out how the upcoming local elections will change the political make-up of its leadership.

It has been a difficult term for the council running Scotland's third city, having to endure heavy spending cuts since the last local elections in 2007.

The council was forced into heavy spending cuts in an attempt to balance the books, sparking protests on the streets of Aberdeen.

Most recently there has been major controversy over the proposed £140m redevelopment of the historic Union Terrace Gardens in the heart of the city, which was narrowly given the public vote in a referendum.

The planned western peripheral route, which will divert traffic away from the city centre, has been mired in legal challenges.

For the last five years Aberdeen City Council has been controlled by a Liberal Democrat/SNP coalition.

The SNP are hopeful they can secure the 22 seats needed to run the city solo.

Labour claims both parties have bene responsible for poor leadership over the last term.

A full list of candidates for the local government elections in Aberdeen can be found on the STV website.

More About Local elections 2012

• Scotland’s councillors get back to work as the dust settles on elections
• New coalition in Edinburgh sets out promises for next five years
• SNP fury as Labour and Tories strike coalition deal to run Stirling Council
• Voters go to the polls a week late to elect final three councillors
• Councils in Lothians strike deals after days of negotiations
• Councils across Scotland starting to take shape after days of negotiations
• Negotiations across the Lothians in the wake of local government elections