'Let's try again' says Highland Council on community councils

The Highland Council's Community Council Notice Of Election is set to go live in 11 days' time.

"We can confirm that in a final attempt to reform the 30 community councils that failed to form in 2023, a Notice of Election will go live on Monday, January 15," a spokesperson said today.

Community councils are voluntary organisations that express the views and concerns of local people within their area across a wide range of issues from new buildings and roads to local services and facilities.

In Badenoch and Strathspey the number of such local watchdogs was slashed in the recent elections with not enough candidates coming forward in:

Carrbridge, Cromdale and Advie, Dalwhinnie, Dulnain Bridge and Grantown.

Regionally, these areas joined them in losing their representation:

Balintore and Hilton, Ballachulish, Ballifeary, Bower, Cawdor and West Nairnshire, Creich, Dalneigh and Columba, Dornie and District, East Nairnshire, Glendale, Golspie, Inver, Muir of Ord, Muirtown, Nairn West and Suburban, Nigg and Shandwick, Portree, Resolis, Sleat, Small Isles, Smithton, Stromeferry and Achmore, Sunart, Tain, Waternish.

Anyone living in those 30 communities that did not form will have until midday on Tuesday, January 30 to put themselves forward.

To help promote those community councils listed and to explain more about the important role community councils play, the council has created an online digital toolkit with lots of helpful information. This is now available on the council’s website

Anyone considering putting themselves forward must be 16 years of age or over (by the date of the close of nominations), be registered as an elector on the local government electoral register and be a resident of the community council area.

The online nomination process is quick and simple to use, and full details will be provided when the notice is published.

In the meantime, detailed information about the role community councils play and the election process are on the website including a short video.

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