Council’s Community Council Scheme Review moves on to second public consultation

Members of The Highland Council have noted the feedback received during phase 1 of the Community Council Scheme Review 2024-25 public consultation and have agreed to proceed to a second and final consultation.

Members also agreed an amendment from the Nairnshire Area Committee members to amend the “Review of the Highland Scheme of Establishment for Community Councils 2024/25 – Phase 1 Feedback" 2.1(ii) to add an additional bullet point:

• The proposals for East Nairnshire CC as set out in 7.3 and Appendix 2 to proceed to phase 2 consultation.

The consultation will focus on revised and new boundary proposals, amendments to existing Scheme proposals, and new proposals.  

The Council has made a commitment to review the Scheme on a regular cycle.

Feedback was received on boundary proposals, finance, the role of Community Councils, membership, and elections.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Raymond Bremner said: “During the first consultation period we received 96 responses from individuals, Community Councils and individual Community Council members so I’d like to thank everyone for their input into the process.”

Convener of the Council, Cllr Bill Lobban added: “We are now ready to move forward and the proposals we are consulting on in this next phase have all come following feedback directly from the first phase of public consultation.”

A 12-week public consultation will run from 22 May until 13 August 2025.

Following this, a further report will go to a special meeting of The Highland Council on 18 September at which Members will make a final decision to approve a New Scheme of Establishment for Community Councils.