Candidates to represent their community sought

Residents in the Highlands are being encouraged to bolster the ranks of their local Community Council as Interim election take place to fill vacant positions serving eight areas of Nairn, Lochaber, Inverness and Caithness.

The Highland Council, who administers the interim elections, are inviting nominations from people looking to fill vacancies on the following Community Councils:

• Caithness West (5 vacancies)
• Caol (9 vacancies)
• East Nairnshire (5 vacancies)
• Inverlochy and Torlundy (5 vacancies)
• Raigmore (8 vacancies)
• Sinclairs Bay (5 vacancies)
• Sunart (5 vacancies)
• Wick (7 vacancies)

Anyone who wishes to be nominated has to live in the Highlands and be registered in the current Electoral Register for their local Community Council area.  A young person of 16 or 17 years old, as an alternative, has to have completed a Voter Registration application.

Convener of The Highland Council, Councillor Jimmy Gray is very keen to see as wide an age range represented on Community Councils as possible and in particular he is keen to see young people put themselves forward.  He said “Community Councils will benefit hugely from the involvement of young people. The Highland Youth Voice has shown the very valuable contribution young people can make to the policy and decision making process.

“Having their say about what goes on in their communities and the prospect to vote and work alongside some older people on important local issues is a great opportunity so I would encourage young people to get involved and make a change in their communities for the better.”

The nomination process is straightforward. Potential candidates complete the nomination form then the form has to be signed by a candidate and a witness. An election will only be contested should the number of candidates validly nominated exceed the vacancies available for each Community Council.  Contested elections are conducted by Postal Ballot, under The First Past The Post System.

The completed nomination forms should be with the relevant Ward Manager for each Community Council area by 4pm on Wednesday 5 February.  Full details and the nomination forms are now available to be downloaded from the Highland Council web site or requested by e-mail to elections@highland.gov.uk.