Bower falls by the wayside as community council deadline passes
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NO community council elections will take place in Caithness next month although there will be contests elsewhere in the Highlands.
Eleven of the 12 local councils will continue to function as they received sufficient nominations to operate, although not enough to trigger elections. But there will be no community council at Bower as not enough people came forward.
That emerged after the deadline for nominations passed at 4pm on Tuesday.
Thirty-three community councils attracted more nominations than their maximum membership, paving the way for elections on Wednesday November 16.
A total of 104 community councils received more than half the maximum membership, allowing them to function from November 16.
A total of 19 will not be established after failing to attract half the maximum membership. It shall now be at the discretion of the Highland Council to issue further calls for nominations when it is deemed appropriate.
The final picture could yet change, however, as candidates have until 4pm on Thursday (October 6) to withdraw their nominations.
The maximum membership of each of the 156 Highland community councils is determined by the population it serves and varies from seven to 13 members.
The decision to hold elections across the Highlands at the same time was a key feature of a new scheme for the establishment of community councils agreed by the Highland Council earlier this year.
The new scheme also allows people aged 16 at the time of the nomination deadline to seek election.
For full story see Friday’s John O’Groat Journal.
