Community Council elections called

Candidates wishing to serve their local Community Councils in the Highlands for the next four years have until 4 pm on Tuesday 4 October to present their nominations.
 
The maximum membership of each of the 153 Highland Community Councils is determined by the population it serves and varies from 7 - 13 members.

An election will be held in instances where the number of nominations exceeds the maximum membership. For the first time, elections will be held across the Highlands on the same day - Wednesday 16 November.  Each elector shall be entitled to vote for a number of candidates up to and including the number of vacancies on the Community Council.

Counting will take place locally from Thursday 17 November.

Where the number of nominations is equal to or more than half the maximum membership, these candidates will be automatically elected to the Community Council, with effect from 16 November and no ballot will be required. Where the number of candidates is less than half the maximum membership,  no Community Council will be formed. It shall be at the discretion of The Highland Council to issue a further call(s) for nominations when it is deemed appropriate.

If there were elections in every instance, 1,330 Community Councillors would be elected -  339 in Caithness Sutherland and East Ross; 562 in Ross, Skye & Lochaber and 429 in Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey.

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. To be eligible to stand, young people need to have completed a voter registration form.

Nominations forms are available here. They can also be obtained from any Council Service Point, or by contacting the Council Service Centre on 01349 886606.

The Returning Officer for the elections is Alistair Dodds, Chief Executive of The Highland Council.  He will be assisted in administering the elections by  Corporate Manager, William Gilfillan, Elections Manager, John Bruce, and the Council’s network of Ward Managers.

Mr Dodds said: "Community Councils play an important role in the democratic process, offering a local perspective on a range of issues.  I am sure there will be significant interest in the elections, which for the first time are being held across the Highlands on the same day and for the first time will involve 16 and 17 year olds."