The Community Council Scheme sets out the parameters under which Community Councils are created within a Local Authority area, and sets out the framework under which they are to operate.
The draft Community Council Scheme for Highland is made up by a series of documents:
It is important that Community Councils and the wide public respond to the consultation and tell the Council what they think of this draft documentation.
The Scheme document itself sets out the framework under which Community Councils are to operate. Accordingly it includes sections on:
- Roles and responsibilities of Community Council
- Members roles
- Elections procedures
- Meetings
- Financial management
- Liabilities, disqualification and dissolution
The Scheme document can be accessed here
The Council will welcome comments upon any area of the documentation however potential areas for comment could be:
- Do you have any comments on the proposed membership formula?
- Do you have any comments about how Community Councils could promote equalities within their communities?
- Do you have any comments about the membership make-up of Community Councils?
- Do you agree with the proposed process and method of election (postal elections)?
- Do you agree with the proposal for quorum levels?
A model constitution is the second in the suite of documents that make up the Community Council Scheme. The constitution can be cross-referenced to the Scheme at various points e.g. roles and responsibilities member’s elections, but also includes sections on:
- Voting rights
- Election of office bearers
- Meetings
- Public participants
- Control of finance
The standard constitution can be accessed here
Do you have any comments on the proposed constitution?
The draft standing orders set out how day-to-day business of the Community Council should be undertaken. The standing orders include details on:
- Minutes
- Order of business
- Order of debate
- Voting
The model standing orders can be accessed here
Do you have any comments on the proposed standing orders?
The draft code of conduct for Community Councillors is largely based on the code of conduct as provided for in the Ethical Standards in Public Life (Scotland) Act 2000. It includes a section on declarations of interest and a series of principles to which Community Councillors would be expected to abide by. The principles are:
- Service to the Community
- Integrity
- Objectivity
- Accountability and stewardship
- Openness
- Honesty
- Leadership
- Respect
The code of conduct for Community Councillors can be accessed here
Do you have any comments on the proposed code of conduct for Community Councillors?
The Scheme documentation includes a series of standard financial reporting templates for use by Community Councils. This is to ensure constituency in recording of financial information.
The standard financial templates can be accessed here
Do you have any comments on the proposed standard financial templates?
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