Community Councils

Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils

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

For more information, please refer to the Community Council page.

The Elections Office is responsible for running the Community Council elections and Members are elected every four years to represent their Community council area. If there are less candidates than seats, then no election will be held. If membership of the community council falls to less than half, then the Community Council shall not operate until there are enough members. The maximum membership of each of the 154 Highland Community Councils is determined by the population it serves and varies from 7 to 13 members.

The last Community Council election was held in November 2019 and so therefore the next round of elections is not scheduled until November 2023.

Notice of Interim Elections (10 January to 31 January 2023)

The resignation of some members had brought those community councils listed below down to below HALF of their memberships, and so therefore prompted interim elections to fill some vacancies.  Nominations were invited from 10 January 2023 to 31 January 2023.     

Following the close of Nominations on Tuesday, 31 January 2023, the following 5 Community Councils have now formed uncontested: -

• Cradlehall and Westhill Community Council
• Creich Community Council
• Glencoe and Glen Etive Community Council
• Strathdearn Community Council
• Tarbat Community Council

The 2 Community Council's listed below did not establish as they failed to attract half the maximum membership.

• Kinlochleven Community Council
• Conon Bridge Community Council * second attempt

A postal ballot is being held for Minginish Community Council

Contested Election for Minginish Community Council 

Ballot Papers had been posted out to electors that live within the Minginish Community Council area on Thursday 16 February 2023 and had to be returned by no later than 12noon on Thursday 9 March 2023 in the pre-paid envelope that was provided.

The counting of the ballot papers took place on Thursday 9 March 2023 at 2.30pm in the Highland Council Offices Headquarters, Inverness.

Published here is the Declaration of Result for Minginish Community Council and you can watch the live count below which was streamed live on The Highland Council YouTube channel and our Twitter  and Facebook channels.

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