Community Councils

The administration of elections to Community Councils is a function delegated to local Corporate Managers.

For the election of Councillors to a new Community Council, The Highland Council will organise the election on the basis of a postal ballot, held on a specified day, with the Corporate Manager acting as the Returning Officer for each of the new elections.

All expenses arising from the conduct of the first election for a new Community Council including the hire of any premises, printing of ballot papers, postage and providing staff both for polling day and for counting of ballot papers will be met by The Highland Council.

After the first elections, the responsibility for organising and paying the costs of elections will be undertaken by the Community Council itself, with the exception of postage costs which will be met by The Highland Council (this includes outgoing mailing costs as well as return postage of completed ballot papers). The Community Council will themselves appoint a Returning Officer, who may be an employee of The Highland Council, but must not be a candidate or a relative of a candidate or of a proposer or seconder of a candidate. Unless an adequate case is made to the Highland Council to do otherwise, all elections will be by postal ballot.

A Guidance Note on the Community Council Election Process, together with an indicative timetable has now been produced. A copy can be downloaded by clicking on this link - Community Council Election Guidance 2008

If advice on a matter of detail is required, Community Council’s are advised to contact their local Corporate Manager’s Office for guidance. Corporate Manager's details can be found by using the link shown in Related Information.