New Community Council scheme

6th March 2011

A new scheme governing the running of Community Councils in the Highlands takes effect from 1 April 2011. It brings together eight separate schemes into one Highland-wide scheme.

Community Councils are expected to adopt a new constitution and standing orders before 30 June and hold their first elections - to be held every four years - in November of this year.

The core membership will be 7 members and the maximum membership will be 13, depending on population. The quorum will be 4 members.

The scheme agreed by The Highland Council follows three phases of consultation with the public.

Convener Sandy Park said: "Community Councils play an important role in representing the views of local residents. The major review brings together 8 separate schemes in the Highlands into one and should result in a more consistent operation of Community Councils and better representation in our communities, through more contested elections."

Community Council Review - Final Outcome
The Council has approved a new Scheme of Establishment for Community Councils which will come in to force on 1st April 2011. This follows three phases of consultation which began in September 2009 and finished on 31st January 2011.

The new Scheme replaces eight previous Schemes which date from the District Councils. These eight Schemes were revoked as part of this process.

The Scheme sets out the framework through which Community Councils are to operate and includes a suite of documents:

�Standard Community Council Constitution
�Standard Community Council Standing Orders
�Code of Conduct for Community Councillors
�Standard financial report formats
�Standard election documentation
Community Councils will be required to operate under the terms of the new Scheme from 1st April 2011. The first elections under the new Scheme will take place in November 2011. Community Councils will continue to operate with their existing membership until that time but will be required to adopt the new Constitution and Standing Orders before the end of June 2011.

Alongside the intoduction of the new Scheme, a series of boundary amendments will come into force.