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 elections are held if a community council has fallen below half the maximum permitted membership and the notice of election will be published here with further guidance on how to apply.

Dates for Interim Elections

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

Previous Interim Elections - 14 October 2024

Following the deadline for the close of the nominations and withdrawal period, the notices of persons nominated for the Community Councils that were uncontested are published below and formed as of Tuesday 10 September 2024.

Kinlochleven Community Council 
Strathglass Community Council 

Result for Ardgay and District Community Council 

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

The Candidates with the most votes are now elected to serve on the Community Council and the declaration of result is now available here.

The live streamed can be viewed below on The Highland Council YouTube channel , and our Twitter / X  and Facebook channels

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:

• Ballifeary
• Bower
• Carrbridge
• East Nairnshire
• Glendale
• Inver
• Muirtown
• Portree
• Smithton

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. A copy of the template is available here.  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 2025 timetable.

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