Caithness community council group looking to take more proactive role
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THE Association of Caithness Community Councils is looking to take a more proactive and effective role in representing the community following its first meeting since the recent community council elections.
A number of community council representatives at the meeting said they were concerned about the effectiveness of the association and its function. After an open discussion a new chairman and vice-chairman were appointed.
Paul Ambler was newly elected to Watten Community Council and has been appointed as its chairperson. Mr Ambler has also been appointed chairman of the association.
Ron Gunn was newly elected to Thurso Community Council and appointed its chairperson. Mr Gunn was proposed and appointed vice-chairman of the association.
Members went on to discuss changes to make the association more effective.
Their first move was to agree to host the association’s meetings in various places around the county. Previously, all meetings were hosted in the Ross Institute in Halkirk.
The next meeting is to be held in Wick tonight (Tuesday). The association will then meet in Thurso.
Meetings are held every three months.
They also decided to invite representatives of local agencies and service providers to their meetings, allowing the association to make corporate representation on behalf of all the communities in Caithness. At tonight's meeting in Wick, senior representatives from NHS Highland will be present to discuss local issues and senior managers from Highland Council have confirmed their attendance to discuss traffic regulations and the upcoming consultation on car-park charging.
Others that have been invited for future meetings are Police Scotland, Highland Council’s chief executive and the newly appointed executive officer for Caithness, and representatives of Caithness Foodbank.
Mr Ambler said: “I really hope that getting new people on the Association of Caithness Community Councils with fresh ideas and motivation will be a boost to the representation of our communities. I hope we can work together to be an effective voice for our area and to move forward in a manner that gets the best outcomes possible for the people of Caithness.”
Mr Gunn said: “It was good to meet representatives of some of the other community councils in Caithness and I’m looking forward to meeting those who couldn’t make it on the night. Among the new faces present there was a definite fresh enthusiasm and a willingness to bring all the community councils together to work for the benefit of the whole community”
Meeting of the Association of Caithness Community Councils in 2020:
- Tuesday, March 3 (7pm)
- Tuesday, June 2 (7.30pm)
- Tuesday, September 1 (7.30pm)
- Tuesday, December 1 (7pm)
There are 12 community councils in Caithness with 10 formed at present.
Each formed community council can send two representatives to the association.
