Crieff and Auchterarder Community Councils under threat, Oct 7 2011
by Clare Damodaran, Strathearn Herald
THE Strath’s two largest towns face losing their community councils if not enough people come forward to stand for election.
The deadlines for nominations for both Crieff and Auchterarder and District community councils have been extended by Perth and Kinross Council until 5pm on Monday October 10 in a last-ditch attempt to encourage more Crieff and Lang Toon residents to put themselves forward.
Both community councils have served their towns well over the years but latterly have struggled to find enough willing volunteers required for a quorum.
Acting community council chairman for Crieff Angus Macdonald told the Herald: “If we don’t get enough people to form a community council, our voice can’t be heard.”
And former longstanding Crieff CC chairman Bob Ferguson can’t state strongly enough the importance of having a community council to represent the town. He said: “It’s disappointing that a town the size of Crieff and with Crieff’s aspirations can’t get 15 people to represent it.
“The community council should be the strongest voice in the town and the body everyone looks to when dealing with local issues.
“It should be robust. The weaker the community council is, the weaker the town is when dealing with other bodies, such as the local authority, Scottish Government and developers.
“It’s very sad that Crieff can’t rally to get 15 individuals to be the voice of Crieff.
“Crieff has a lot going for it and will lose out if it doesn’t have a community council to represent it.”
Councillors and members of the public at the Auchterarder and District Community Council meeting last week, the first since the summer break, heard similar comments from chairman Michael Benton.
He said: “We are asking more people in Auchterarder to consider joining the community council as we are entering a very critical phase. With the number of planning applications in process it behoves the people of Auchterarder to keep an eye on them and ensure that local infrastructure issues such as schools and parking for example are all taken into consideration.
“There will not be a community council in Auchterarder if we don’t get enough people.
“We need more nominations, from men and women, and more young people to get involved.”
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said it is not too late for potential community councillors to stand for election in 18 of the 52 community council areas across Perth and Kinross which have received insufficient nominations to form a community council. The deadline for the receipt of nominations for these areas has been extended.
Nominations together with a 50 word statement of support should be submitted to the Community Council Liaison Officer, Perth & Kinross Council, 2 High Street, Perth PH1 5PH by 5pm on October 10. Nomination forms can be downloaded from Perth & Kinross Council’s website www.pkc.gov.uk. They are also available from council offices and libraries.
You must be at least 18 and live in and be named on the electoral register for the area in which you are nominated.
THE Strath’s two largest towns face losing their community councils if not enough people come forward to stand for election.
The deadlines for nominations for both Crieff and Auchterarder and District community councils have been extended by Perth and Kinross Council until 5pm on Monday October 10 in a last-ditch attempt to encourage more Crieff and Lang Toon residents to put themselves forward.
Both community councils have served their towns well over the years but latterly have struggled to find enough willing volunteers required for a quorum.
Acting community council chairman for Crieff Angus Macdonald told the Herald: “If we don’t get enough people to form a community council, our voice can’t be heard.”
And former longstanding Crieff CC chairman Bob Ferguson can’t state strongly enough the importance of having a community council to represent the town. He said: “It’s disappointing that a town the size of Crieff and with Crieff’s aspirations can’t get 15 people to represent it.
“The community council should be the strongest voice in the town and the body everyone looks to when dealing with local issues.
“It should be robust. The weaker the community council is, the weaker the town is when dealing with other bodies, such as the local authority, Scottish Government and developers.
“It’s very sad that Crieff can’t rally to get 15 individuals to be the voice of Crieff.
“Crieff has a lot going for it and will lose out if it doesn’t have a community council to represent it.”
Councillors and members of the public at the Auchterarder and District Community Council meeting last week, the first since the summer break, heard similar comments from chairman Michael Benton.
He said: “We are asking more people in Auchterarder to consider joining the community council as we are entering a very critical phase. With the number of planning applications in process it behoves the people of Auchterarder to keep an eye on them and ensure that local infrastructure issues such as schools and parking for example are all taken into consideration.
“There will not be a community council in Auchterarder if we don’t get enough people.
“We need more nominations, from men and women, and more young people to get involved.”
A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said it is not too late for potential community councillors to stand for election in 18 of the 52 community council areas across Perth and Kinross which have received insufficient nominations to form a community council. The deadline for the receipt of nominations for these areas has been extended.
Nominations together with a 50 word statement of support should be submitted to the Community Council Liaison Officer, Perth & Kinross Council, 2 High Street, Perth PH1 5PH by 5pm on October 10. Nomination forms can be downloaded from Perth & Kinross Council’s website www.pkc.gov.uk. They are also available from council offices and libraries.
You must be at least 18 and live in and be named on the electoral register for the area in which you are nominated.