Blairgowrie Chairman says "Join your Community Council"
Community Councils - the chance to say your piece
Sep 15 2011, by Andrew Harris, Blairgowrie Advertiser
COMMUNITY councils can be interesting and exciting groups where people can say their say.
That is the view of community council chairmen throughout East Perthshire as the statutory bodies reconvene this week from the summer recess.
“People should come along and take part,” Jim Bradley, Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council chairman, said.
“If people want their piece said about how the community is, then they can be very interesting meetings to attend.
“Issues come up which people would never normally think about and these issues then, actually, can be intriguing.”
Community councils are groups of people who give time to, and have a genuine interest in, the wellbeing of their community.
Their chief role is representative, to consult the local community and to make known to Perth and Kinross Council, and other public bodies, the views of residents on all matters that affect them.
The local authority, in return, has a duty to consult community councils on how services are delivered and other issues affecting their neighbourhoods.
Community councils have the right to be consulted on any planning applications in their areas and are also kept informed about licensing applications.
Chairman of Coupar Angus, Ardler and Bendochy Community Council Ann Campbell, who intends to step down in November, encouraged locals to get involved, especially those from a younger generation.
“Being a community councillor really is more exciting than you would think,” she said. “You attend various meetings of other groups in the town and get a real sense of what some of the most important issues are.
“We need younger people to come along and bring fresh ideas to the table.”
In Alyth, the community council chairman, Sanjay Samani, said his group offered a stronger voice PKC than individual citizens.
“There is a role to play,” he said. “PKC will often heed advice from the community council when considering possible actions in the area.
“A community council has more impact than an individual’s complaint.”
Mount Blair Community Council chairman, Doreen Macintyre, said she was impressed with the effective relationship between PKC councillors and her community council.
“At meetings, we engage everyone who attends and our councillors are very good at following up our enquiries.”
For the first time, Perth and Kinross Council will administer elections for the 53 community councils across the Perth and Kinross area.
The elections, which will be by postal vote, will take place where the number of valid nominations to stand as a member of a community council exceeds the maximum number of members allowed for that community council.
The deadline for voting is 5pm on Thursday, November 3, and the results will be announced the following day.
Anyone interested in standing for local community council, nomination forms will be available from Perth and Kinross Council’s website www.pkc.gov.uk from Thursday, September 15.
The deadline for nominations is Thursday, September 29.
All nominations must be accompanied by 50 word statement of support.
Sep 15 2011, by Andrew Harris, Blairgowrie Advertiser
COMMUNITY councils can be interesting and exciting groups where people can say their say.
That is the view of community council chairmen throughout East Perthshire as the statutory bodies reconvene this week from the summer recess.
“People should come along and take part,” Jim Bradley, Blairgowrie and Rattray Community Council chairman, said.
“If people want their piece said about how the community is, then they can be very interesting meetings to attend.
“Issues come up which people would never normally think about and these issues then, actually, can be intriguing.”
Community councils are groups of people who give time to, and have a genuine interest in, the wellbeing of their community.
Their chief role is representative, to consult the local community and to make known to Perth and Kinross Council, and other public bodies, the views of residents on all matters that affect them.
The local authority, in return, has a duty to consult community councils on how services are delivered and other issues affecting their neighbourhoods.
Community councils have the right to be consulted on any planning applications in their areas and are also kept informed about licensing applications.
Chairman of Coupar Angus, Ardler and Bendochy Community Council Ann Campbell, who intends to step down in November, encouraged locals to get involved, especially those from a younger generation.
“Being a community councillor really is more exciting than you would think,” she said. “You attend various meetings of other groups in the town and get a real sense of what some of the most important issues are.
“We need younger people to come along and bring fresh ideas to the table.”
In Alyth, the community council chairman, Sanjay Samani, said his group offered a stronger voice PKC than individual citizens.
“There is a role to play,” he said. “PKC will often heed advice from the community council when considering possible actions in the area.
“A community council has more impact than an individual’s complaint.”
Mount Blair Community Council chairman, Doreen Macintyre, said she was impressed with the effective relationship between PKC councillors and her community council.
“At meetings, we engage everyone who attends and our councillors are very good at following up our enquiries.”
For the first time, Perth and Kinross Council will administer elections for the 53 community councils across the Perth and Kinross area.
The elections, which will be by postal vote, will take place where the number of valid nominations to stand as a member of a community council exceeds the maximum number of members allowed for that community council.
The deadline for voting is 5pm on Thursday, November 3, and the results will be announced the following day.
Anyone interested in standing for local community council, nomination forms will be available from Perth and Kinross Council’s website www.pkc.gov.uk from Thursday, September 15.
The deadline for nominations is Thursday, September 29.
All nominations must be accompanied by 50 word statement of support.