Highland Council to seek involvement of independent watchdog in community councils’ conduct disputes
The conduct of community councils in the Highlands could soon become regulated by the independent body which oversees the council’s ethical standards.
The motion was brought forward by Thurso and Northwest Caithness councillor Struan Mackie, who underlined that the initiative was not aimed at slamming community councillors but as a way of providing a “clear, transparent and external” process to deal with complaints against community councillors.
He said: “It’s not my intention to put any unwanted spotlight on our community councils, or to make their life or work harder or more beaurocratic.
“This motion is to acknowledge that, as a local authority, we currently do not have a satisfactory mechanism that can adequately, equitably and transparently deal with complaints that may come from members of the public, community councillors and community councils at large.
“This applies for the complainants, but also to those that are subject to complaint.
“This is, in my opinion, through no fault of this council nor staff members in community support and ward management roles, many of whom are inevitably called away from their core roles to try and deal with what complaints, grievances and general issues may arise with our community councils.
“I believe this is because our most local form of government sits awkwardly in the hierarchy of local democracy.
“Our community councillors hold elected positions and, despite being tasked by providing input on a wide variety of statutory duties and providing a genuine local forum in each of our communities that they represent, I believe that it is a voluntary vocation and one that is immensely under-appreciated and, by many, misunderstood.”
He added that he believed the jobs of community councils could be made even more difficult when those disputes go unresolved, a further reason why he brought forward this motion.
Highland Council leader Raymond Bremner backed the motion, adding: “I am happy to write as requested here, but I understand that Councillor Mackie is under no illusion – as I am under no illusion – of where this may or may not go, I think the intent and the consideration behind it is well meant.
“We all have the backs of unpaid volunteers who are willing to do their best in contributing to the role on governance in our country.”
The motion, which was approved at the full council meeting yesterday, had also been signed by Thurso and Northwest Caithness councillor Matthew Reiss, Inverness Ness-side councillor Alasdair Christie and Eilean a’ Cheò councillor Ruarish Stewart. Black Isle councillor Sarah Atkin said she supported the motion after it was clarified that it was not a “gut punch” to the work of community councillors.
Earlier, Cllr Mackie said he wanted a “robust” scheme where community councillors felt they could also defend themselves against any complaints.
“I want a framework to be in place that both sides can feel is a fair, robust and open process,” he said.
“It’s also important that there is a robust process so that community councillors feel that they can defend themselves if they have done nothing wrong.”
