Friday 18 September 2009
Major Consultation Planned Over Community Council Review
The first phase of a major review of Community Council arrangements in
Stage one of the consultation process invites suggestions on the area and composition of Community Councils. This will last until 23 December. The proposed areas for Community Councils will be included in a report which will be presented to the Highland Council in February 2010.
Many Community Council boundaries were set more than 30 years ago. Community Council (and members of the public who wish to participate in this process) are invited to consider whether these boundaries are still meaningful as they stand, or whether changes in such things as population and settlement patterns should be reflected in altered boundaries. There may also be an opportunity to realign Community Council boundaries with other divisions, such as Polling Districts
Highland Council members, at their local Ward Business Meetings, will have an opportunity to comment separately, and they will also be sounded out on any other comments which are received.
The second 12-week period of public consultation will follow in April 2010, after the Council has produced a new Highland-wide draft scheme. This will include discussion at Ward Forums.
A third period of consultation will follow in October, next year, when the public is invited to comment on amendments to the draft scheme.
The Council currently provides 150 Community Councils in
Maps of the current boundaries of Community Councils are available from the home page of the Council’s web site: www.highland.gov.uk. They are also available for insection in Council libraries and Service Points.
Emails should be sent to ccreview@highland.gov.uk. Written submissions should be sent to CC Review, Highland Council,