Review of electoral arrangements

The Commission proposes to create 22 multi-member wards in Highland, distributing a total of 80 elected members into 8 three-member and 14 four-member wards. This is to accommodate the introduction of proportional representation and multi-member wards, using a single transferable voting system,

While accepting the changes proposed in Caithness, Sutherland, Ross and Cromarty and most of the Inverness areas, the Council has agreed to object to proposals set out for Lochaber, Lochalsh, and parts of Badenoch and Strathspey and Nairn.

The Council agreed that it was preferable that the Lochalsh area should be included within the Ross and Cromarty area by its inclusion in a four-member ward described as Wester Ross and Strathpeffer rather than be included in a West Lochaber ward.

In Lochaber, the Council favoured an east-west split, with three councillors serving an area stretching from Invergarry and Caol to Ardnamurchan, Mallaig and the Small Isles. The ward should be known as West Lochaber and the Small Isles. A four-member ward, covering Spean Bridge, Fort William and Glencoe would be known as East Lochaber.

Moving east, the Council agreed that Cawdor and Piperhill communities should be included within the new four-member Ward 19 for Nairn, to be renamed Nairn-shire, respecting traditional community links and new community planning service delivery partnerships.

And in Badenoch and Strathspey, the Council believes that the community of Carrbridge should be included within a four-member Badenoch and Strathspey ward, and not as is proposed to link it with a ward whose electorate primarily reside within the city of Inverness.

The Council will also forward its view that three of the new wards should have name changes preferring that East Sutherland be known as East Sutherland and Edderton, Mid Ross be known as Dingwall and Seaforth and finally that the Ardersier Ward be known as Culloden and Ardersier.

The Council has received a number of concerns from community groups on the new electoral wards. However, it is important that such groups and individuals convey their views directly to the Boundary Commission in Edinburgh before the 13 October, 2005 which marks the end of the current consultation period.

Plans of the initial proposals out to consultation from the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland are on display at Council Headquarters in Inverness as well as within Council Service Points in Wick, Dornoch, Dingwall, Portree, Inverness, Nairn, Kingussie and Fort William.  These can also be seen via the Boundary Commission’s Website: http://www.lgbc-scotland.gov.uk/index.html.