Rallying call to public to back community councils, Monday 3 Oct 2011
by Mark Mackay, Dundee Courier
COMMUNITY COUNCILS across Perth and Kinross are at risk of folding if they cannot attract more interest from residents.
The bodies can play a vital role in representing local people and ensuring that councils and other public bodies are aware of matters affecting their areas.
Local authorities also have a duty to consult with community councils on how local services are delivered and on often controversial planning applications.
At present however, too few people have come forward to stand for election within 18 of the region's 52 community council areas and nine are at direct risk of going into abeyance.
Perth and Kinross Council is urging people to come forward and stand as potential community councillors and has extended the deadline for the receipt of nominations for these areas. The chairman of the Convention of Perth and Kinross Community Councils, Michael Gallagher, is also calling for renewed support, but admitted that public apathy towards the role played by community councils was at an all-time high.
So far, 32 community councils will be elected unopposed and there will be an election for the Mid Atholl, Strathtay and
Grandtully Community Council and an election in the Kirkmichael sub-area of Mount Blair Community Council because more nominations have been received than there are seats available.
While that is positive, when the original deadline passed at 5pm last Thursday, the local returning officer had received
insufficient nominations for nine, with those at risk including Inchture, Meigle and Ardler, Burrelton and District, Rannoch and Tummel, Dunkeld and Birnam, Auchtergaven, Crieff, Auchterarder and District, Abernethy and Earn.
In addition to those under threat, a further eight areas do not have community councils established.
Five of these are in Perth City, including Central, Tulloch, City South (comprising Friarton/Craigie and Viewlands), Letham and North Muirton, while a further two — Luncarty, Redgorton, Moneydie and Invergowrie and Kingoodie — are rural.
Pitlochry and Moulin Community Council — representing a community currently faced with a number of significant and
controversial development proposals — folded in April this year due to lack of Interest.
Convention chairman Mr Gallagher said of the news: ''This is really worrying.
"Community councils are the only democratically-elected bodies that represent Scots at community level.
"However, it really isn't any wonder that community councils are struggling to attract members.
"They have no power and virtually no money, and are therefore regarded by many people as irrelevant.
"I really feel it is time for Scotland's 1,200 community councils to get together to demand meaningful powers and a commensurate share of council tax, as England's parish councils have."
Perth and Kinross Council has stressed that it is not too late for potential community councillors to stand for election in the 18 community council areas that have so far have received insufficient nominations to form a community council.
Nominations, together with a 50-word statement of support, must be submitted to the Community Council Liaison Officer, Perth and Kinross Council, 2 High Street, Perth PHI 5PH by 5pm next Monday.
Forms can be downloaded from pkc.gov.uk and are also available from council offices and local libraries.
COMMUNITY COUNCILS across Perth and Kinross are at risk of folding if they cannot attract more interest from residents.
The bodies can play a vital role in representing local people and ensuring that councils and other public bodies are aware of matters affecting their areas.
Local authorities also have a duty to consult with community councils on how local services are delivered and on often controversial planning applications.
At present however, too few people have come forward to stand for election within 18 of the region's 52 community council areas and nine are at direct risk of going into abeyance.
Perth and Kinross Council is urging people to come forward and stand as potential community councillors and has extended the deadline for the receipt of nominations for these areas. The chairman of the Convention of Perth and Kinross Community Councils, Michael Gallagher, is also calling for renewed support, but admitted that public apathy towards the role played by community councils was at an all-time high.
So far, 32 community councils will be elected unopposed and there will be an election for the Mid Atholl, Strathtay and
Grandtully Community Council and an election in the Kirkmichael sub-area of Mount Blair Community Council because more nominations have been received than there are seats available.
While that is positive, when the original deadline passed at 5pm last Thursday, the local returning officer had received
insufficient nominations for nine, with those at risk including Inchture, Meigle and Ardler, Burrelton and District, Rannoch and Tummel, Dunkeld and Birnam, Auchtergaven, Crieff, Auchterarder and District, Abernethy and Earn.
In addition to those under threat, a further eight areas do not have community councils established.
Five of these are in Perth City, including Central, Tulloch, City South (comprising Friarton/Craigie and Viewlands), Letham and North Muirton, while a further two — Luncarty, Redgorton, Moneydie and Invergowrie and Kingoodie — are rural.
Pitlochry and Moulin Community Council — representing a community currently faced with a number of significant and
controversial development proposals — folded in April this year due to lack of Interest.
Convention chairman Mr Gallagher said of the news: ''This is really worrying.
"Community councils are the only democratically-elected bodies that represent Scots at community level.
"However, it really isn't any wonder that community councils are struggling to attract members.
"They have no power and virtually no money, and are therefore regarded by many people as irrelevant.
"I really feel it is time for Scotland's 1,200 community councils to get together to demand meaningful powers and a commensurate share of council tax, as England's parish councils have."
Perth and Kinross Council has stressed that it is not too late for potential community councillors to stand for election in the 18 community council areas that have so far have received insufficient nominations to form a community council.
Nominations, together with a 50-word statement of support, must be submitted to the Community Council Liaison Officer, Perth and Kinross Council, 2 High Street, Perth PHI 5PH by 5pm next Monday.
Forms can be downloaded from pkc.gov.uk and are also available from council offices and local libraries.