Community Council elections

What is a Community Council ?

Community Councils are voluntary organisations that express the views and concerns of local people within their area across a wide range of issues from new buildings and roads to local services and facilities.

Every local community can request their local authority to establish a Community Council in their area.

What is involved?

The Community Council meets regularly to discuss issues affecting their area, including planning and licensing. All meetings are held in public, and residents are encouraged to attend their local meeting.

The maximum membership of each of the 156 Highland Community Councils is determined by the population it serves and varies from 7 to 13 members.  

For more information on the roles and responsibilities of a community councillor, please see our Community Council page or view our Frequently Asked Questions .  

Here is the link to a short video on what is a Community Council

How can I apply to be a Community Councillor?

The Election Office is responsible for running the Community Council elections, which must be held every 4 years.

Those wishing to stand as Candidate must be:

aged 16 years and over;
a resident within the boundary of the Community Council area;
named in the Electoral Register for that Community Council.

Follow the link to view the map and search details on your community council.

Interim Election – 14 October 2024

The timetable for the next scheduled interim election is detailed below to fill vacancies for the following community councils that have fallen into abeyance since the last round of interim elections:

Ardgay and District (7 vacancies)
Kinlochleven (5 vacancies)
Strathglass (5 vacancies)

Timetable

To stand as Candidate, all you needed do was self-nominate yourself by completing and submitting the online nomination paper by 12noon on Tuesday 3 September 2024.

Close of Nominations

Following the deadline for the close of the nominations and withdrawal period, the notices of persons nominated for the Community Councils are now published below.

Ardgay and District Community Council - Contested
Kinlochleven Community Council – Uncontested
Strathglass Community Council – Uncontested

*the new Community Council will now be formed as of Tuesday 10 September 2024.

Postal Ballot for Ardgay and District Community Council

A postal ballot will be held for Ardgay and District Community Council as the number of nominations received exceeded their maximum membership.

Ballot papers are scheduled to be issued by post on Monday 23 September 2024 and must be returned no later than 12noon on Monday 14 October 2024.

The counting of the votes will commence at 12noon on Monday 14 October 2024 and will be live streamed below on The Highland Council YouTube channel, and our Twitter / X and Facebook channels.

The Candidates with the most votes will be elected to serve on the Community Council.

Councils that failed to form in 2023/24

The following Community Councils have dissolved as the total number of validly nominated candidates was less than the minimum number required:

Subsequently to re-establish any of the community councils listed above, twenty or more electors will need to submit a requisition to The Highland Council in accordance with Section 52(7) of the Local Government Act 1973, on receipt of which the Returning Officer shall arrange a date for a further election to be held. Failing such a requisition a further election would be held after the current 4 year term in 2027.

Notification of Election Petition

In accordance with Section 52(7) of the Local Government Act 1973, petitions have been submitted to the Highland Council from persons residing in and appearing on the electoral registers for the areas of those Community Council's listed below hereby requesting elections for representatives to re-establish these community councils.

Bower Community Council
Portree and Braes Community Council

On receipt of this request the Returning Officer shall arrange for these elections to be held by 31 March 2025 as per the spring timetable published below.

Further Interim Elections

Dates for the next scheduled interim elections for any community councils that fall into abeyance will be in Spring and Autumn 2025.

Questions or advice

Please contact the Elections Team if you have any questions about the election process.

Email: election@highland.gov.uk
Tel: 01349 886657