Opportunity for people to represent their community with Interim Community Council elections
Nominations are being invited from people seeking election to thirteen Highland community councils covering areas in Caithness, Ross and Cromarty, Wester Ross, Lochaber, the Isle of Skye and Inverness.
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. People sitting on their local community council play an important role as they act as a voice for their communities, bridging the gap between them and public agencies, including the Highland Council.
The need to hold interim elections has come about due to the resignation of some members which have brought the following community councils down to below half of their memberships.
• Balintore and Hilton Community Council (7 vacancies)
- Caol (6 vacancies)
• Cromarty and District (5 vacancies)
• Mallaig (4 vacancies)
• Maryburgh (7 vacancies)
• Shieldaig (6 vacancies)
• Torridon and Kinlochewe (5 vacancies)
Also, there is a final attempt to re-form the following 6 Community Council’s that failed to form in November 2019 and February 2020. Should these Community Councils fail to form at this attempt, a petition from 20 electors would be required to hold a further election.
• Cradlehall and Westhill (12 vacancies)
• Glendale (8 vacancies)
• Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry (9 vacancies)
• Tannach and District (7 vacancies)
• Uig (8 vacancies)
• Waternish (8 vacancies)
The Leader of the Highland Council Margaret Davidson hopes nominations come forward. She said: “Please put your name forward. It would be great if a wide range of people are part of Community Councils so that different opinions and ideas are heard, it makes a huge difference. We want our community councils to fully represent their communities, give it some serious thought.”
If you are interested in supporting your local community, you need to be registered in the current Electoral Register for the Community Council area and you must be 16 years old and over.
Nomination forms and copies of the scheme for the establishment of Community Councils can be downloaded from The Highland Council website: www.highland.gov.uk/elections , obtained on request, by email to: election@highland.gov.uk or by contacting the appropriate Ward Manager.
Completed nomination forms must be submitted to the appropriate Ward Manager not later than 12noon on Tuesday 8 September 2020. Ward Managers will accept emailed copies of the Form, so long as it has been correctly completed and contains the signature of the candidate and witness.
Elections will only take place on Thursday 8 October 2020 where the number of valid Nominations exceeds the membership number of the relevant Community Council.