Apathy rules in Ross-shire community council shake-up
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ELECTIONS look likely to be required to only a handful of community councils in Ross-shire under a new set-up which will see the vast majority of hopefuls returned uncontested because of a lack of interest.
And two areas which are eligible to form community councils – Gairloch and Fearn – will now not see them established unless Highland Council issues a fresh call for nominations. That’s because not enough people came forward for the tiny minimum quotas to be reached.
Fears had been voiced ahead of Tuesday afternoon’s deadline for nominations that there was a chronic lack of interest in some parts of the Highlands. As things stand, a total of 18 Highland community councils will not be established as they failed to attract half the maximum membership.
While candidates now have until 4pm on Thursday to withdraw their names, November 16 elections are now likely to be held for the following community councils: Aultbea, Avoch and Killen, Contin, Cromarty, Fortrose and Rosemarkie, Garve and District, Glenelg and Arnisdale, Invergordon and Plockton.
Elections will also be held in Beauly amongst Dornoch. In total, elections look set to be held to 32 community councils which drew more nominations than their maximum membership.
A total of 138 councils attracted sufficient interest to form a new Council. Some 106 community councils attracted more than half the maximum membership, allowing them to function from 16 November.
A total of 18 will not be established as they failed to attract half the maximum membership. It will be at the discretion of Highland Council to issue further calls for nominations “when it is deemed appropriate”.
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.
The decision to hold elections across the Highlands at the same time was a key feature of a new scheme for the establishment of Community Councils agreed by the Highland Council earlier this year.
The new scheme also allows people aged 16 at the time of the nomination deadline to seek election. It is unclear at this stage how many teenagers were tempted to stand for the grassroots bodies.
Community councils which in which candidates are now set to be returned uncontested include Dingwall, Edderton, Ferintosh, Kilmuir and Logie Easter, Kiltearn, Knockbain, Kyle, Lochalsh, Lochbroom, Lochcarron, Marybank, Scatwell and Strathconon, Maryburgh, Muir of Ord, Nigg and Shandwick, Resolis, Saltburn and Westwood, Sheildaig, Strathpeffer, Stromeferry, Tain, Tarbat, Torridon and Kinlochewe and Wester Loch Ewe.
Some would-be candidates privately voiced concerns about the more complicated paperwork requirements for stand under the new set-up.
A full list of the current state of play regarding community councils in the Highlands can be found here.
