Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map

 

 

Community Council Elections 2023 - Postal Ballots To Take Place - Thurso And Watten Among Others - Bower Failed To Get Enough Candidates

10th October 2023

Following the close of the withdrawal period today at 12 noon (Tuesday 10 October 2023), an election will be held for the 10 contested community councils across Highland.

The contested community councils are:

Bettyhill, Strathnaver and Altnaharra
Croy and Culloden Moor
Dunvegan
Glengarry
Kiltearn
Melvich
Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry
Thurso
Watten
Wester Loch Ewe

Ballot papers are being posted out second class on Tuesday 31 October 2023.

Candidates were invited to submit a statement to support their candidacy which will be published online at the community council elections section of the Council's website: www.highland.gov.uk/ccelections when the ballot papers are being dispatched.

The deadline for returning postal ballot papers is 12noon on Monday 27 November 2023.

The counting of the votes for the contested Community Councils will commence from 2pm on Monday 27 November 2023 and will be broadcast live. Detailed information will be published on the council's website nearer the time.

It is now confirmed that a total of 30 Community Councils across The Highland Council area will not be established as they failed to attract half the maximum membership.

They are:

Balintore and Hilton
Ballachulish
Ballifeary
Bower
Carrbridge
Cawdor and West Nairnshire
Creich
Cromdale and Advie
Dalneigh and Columba
Dalwhinnie
Dornie and District
Dulnain Bridge
East Nairnshire
Glendale
Golspie
Grantown On Spey
Inver
Muir of Ord
Muirtown
Nairn West and Suburban
Nigg and Shandwick
Portree
Resolis
Sleat
Small Isles
Smithton
Stromeferry and Achmore
Sunart
Tain
Waternish

The next opportunity for nominations to be made to those Community Council’s will be in January 2024.

116 Community Councils have now formed without requiring a ballot.

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

Yesterday
Council welcomes Visitor Levy flexibility plan
The Highland Council welcomes moves by the Scottish Government to introduce greater flexibility on how it could design a Visitor Levy Scheme for consultation.   The Visitor Levy (Scotland) Act 2024 currently provides local authorities with discretionary powers to implement percentage-based levies following statutory consultation.  
Yesterday
Highland Council is reaching out for views to shape its next 26/27 budget.
As it looks to set out its forthcoming priorities, the council is seeking involvement from members of the public, including businesses, community groups, parents, and young people.   All their opinions are going to be crucial in deciding how Highland Council will take on its budget challenge for 2026-2027.  
Yesterday
Have your say in Thurso's future £100million investment by attending public consultation events
Thurso is to benefit from £100m investment in education and community facilities and are rolling out the first phase of public consultations on 9 and 10 December 2025.   The Highland Council is inviting people that live, work, or study in Thurso, to come along to the public consultation events to have their say; this is an opportunity to help shape the future of Thurso, to gather views and ideas.  
2/12/2025
Finding new owners for empty homes - Scheme launched to help return more empty homes to active use
A new online portal has been launched to bring empty homeowners together with prospective buyers or developers with the aim of facilitating more properties to be used as homes again.   Covering the whole of Scotland, this builds on the success of local pilots, referred to as "matchmaker schemes".  
1/12/2025
Consideration for short term let control area in Skye and Raasay
Steps towards introducing a short term let control area have been considered by Highland Council's Isle of Skye and Raasay area committee.   On Monday (1 December 2025) the committee heard evidence to justify the grounds for the introduction of a Short Term Let Control Area covering all or part of Skye and Raasay.  
28/11/2025
Workforce North event spotlights Highland economyThumbnail for article : Workforce North event spotlights Highland economy
EMPLOYERS and educators from across the Highlands have gathered to hear how a new initiative is aiming to transform the region's economy.   Workforce North - A Call to Action brought together business leaders and teachers from primary and secondary schools from across the Highland Council area with a wide range of partners geared towards education, learning and skills development at Strathpeffer Pavillion.  
27/11/2025
Council calls for meaningful engagement from Home Office Over 300 Asylum Seekers Being Sent to Inverness
The Highland Council continues to call for meaningful engagement from the Home Office over its plans to temporarily accommodate up to 300 adult male asylum seekers at Cameron Barracks, Inverness.   It follows an email on Monday from Alex Norris MP, Minister for Border Security and Asylum, to Council Leader, Raymond Bremner, which failed to answer questions raised by the Council or address community concerns.  
27/11/2025
SSEN Transmission becomes first signatory to Highland Social Value Charter
SSEN Transmission has become the first company to sign up to the Highland Social Value Charter (HSVC), marking a significant milestone in delivering long-term socio-economic benefits for communities across the Highlands.   Investment commitments from the company include funding for roads, new homes, jobs, and work for local contractors in addition to a local and regional fund for communities to apply to.  
25/11/2025
Wick - Aberdeen PSO - Update issued 24/11/2025
The Highland Council continues to work through the procurement process for the provision of the Wick Public Service Obligation for the Highland Council.   We have now entered the preferred bidder stage and have entered a standstill period.  
25/11/2025
Highland Council winter road condition and school closure report for 25 November 2025
Maps of the Council's gritting routes by priority and policy are available online at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting (external link) The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time.  It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.  

 

0.0114