Community Council By-elections

Argyll and Bute Council is encouraging people with an interest in the wellbeing of their local communities to stand for election to their local Community Council during By-Elections which take place on 5th March.

Vacancies exist on Community Councils across Argyll and Bute, with the exception of Appin and Kilfinan Community Councils.

By-Elections are taking place to fill these vacancies, with the closing date for nominations 4.00pm Thursday 28th January.

Existing Community Councillors do not need to stand for re-election during these By-Elections as the process is to increase the number of Community Councillors in Councils which have not recruited to their maximum representation.

There is widespread local concern that the posters issued by the Council to advertise the by-elections fail to make it clear that this is a gap-filling exercise. As the posters stand, they indicate, unintentionally, that these may be completely new elections.

To stand for election to a Community Council, candidates must reside in the local area and be named on the 1st December 2009 Electoral Register for that area.

Nomination Packs are available:

• from your local Argyll and Bute Council ServicePoint located in the main towns across Argyll and Bute
• online at the Council website
• by calling 01546 603264.

Community Councils make a valuable contribution to the development of Argyll and Bute through their engagement in localised community planning, their representation of community views, and their promoting and delivery of local activities

Argyll and Bute Council Leader, Dick Walsh says: ‘Being a Community Councillor is a very important role and one which can be very rewarding.  I strongly encourage anyone with an interest in contributing to their local community to consider standing for election as a Community Councillor in this year’s elections’.