New representatives being sought for Wick Community Council
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Local people are being encouraged to get involved with Wick Community Council to help with various projects around the town.
The group is one of several across the Highlands which are looking to replace members who have left or bolster numbers.
Nominations are now being invited for community councillors, with interim elections to take place where necessary.
Joanna Coghill, chairwoman of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council, explained that it is all part of the process.
"We lost an elected member, so we need a replacement," she said. "Our numbers around our community council table are healthy, however getting a few more members would be fantastic.
"We have lots of projects on the go as well as our sub committees, so it's the ideal opportunity for a resident of Wick to join us.
"From working alongside Highland Council in regards to the town centre regeneration and ancillary works to enhancing certain areas around Wick, there is plenty to get involved with, to make our town the best it can be.
"I won't lie and say its just meeting up once a month, it's ongoing throughout that month but that's the role of a community councillor – voluntary work which benefits the town."
Nominations are being invited to 15 Highland community councils covering areas in Caithness, Sutherland, Easter Ross, Wester Ross, Isle of Raasay, the Black Isle, Inverness, Nairnshire, Badenoch and Strathspey and Lochaber.
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.
The community councils’ welcome local residents to get involved and are looking for people to put themselves forward.
The need to hold interim elections has come about due to the resignation of some members, which have brought the 15 community councils down to below half of their memberships – Wick is among the ones listed as having vacancies to be filled. Highland Council says there are seven vacancies for community councillors at Wick.
To qualify you 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 resident of the community council area.
A nomination form can be downloaded from www.highland.gov.uk/elections, by sending an email to election@highland.gov.uk or by contacting the ward manager MacKenzie Sutherland, telephone 01599 555430 or email MacKenzie.Sutherland@highland.gov.uk
Completed nomination forms must be submitted to the appropriate ward manager and must be received not later than noon on Tuesday, August 30.
If any of the community councils receive valid nominations by the deadline that exceeds its membership number, an election will take place on Thursday, September 29, via postal ballot.
