Disappointment as two Sutherland community councils fall by the wayside
A VETERAN Golspie community councillor says he is hugely disappointed that the group has fallen by the wayside.
Golspie Community Council is one of 28 across the Highland region who will not reform after failing to attract enough nominations for membership.
One other Sutherland community council - Creich - is in the same situation.
Iain Miller, who has served on Golspie Community Council for a long number of years, many as its chairman, said it was the first time the group had been unable to reform.
He urged local people to put their names forward when a second opportunity arises in the new year.
However in contrast, a further three Sutherland community councils have received more nominations than their maximum membership and are in line to have an election.
Bettyhill, Strathnaver and Atlnaharra Community Council was oversubscribed as were Melvich Community Council and Scourie Community Council.
The 156 community councils across the Highland region were recently dissolved after reaching the end of their four-year term in office. There are 16 community councils covering the whole of Sutherland.
Nominations were invited from people willing to stand for community councils by a deadline of yesterday, October 3.
The maximum membership of each of the Highland community councils is determined by the population it serves and varies from seven to 13 members.
Community councils are unable to reform if they have failed to attract half their maximum membership.
Golspie and Creich will be given another opportunity in January to reform when Highland Council will make another call for nominations.
Highland Council will confirm next week if an election will go ahead for those community councils who received more nominations than the maximum membership.
A ‘withdrawal period’ allows people who have put their names forward to withdraw.
A spokesman for the local authority said: “At the close of the withdrawal period at noon on Tuesday, October 10, Highland Council will confirm if an election goes ahead for these community councils using a postal ballot."
Two Sutherland community councils are amongst 28 across the Highland region who will not be reestablished after failing to attract enough nominations for membership.
Highland Council has revealed too few people put their names forward to stand for Creich Community Council and Golspie Community Council for the groups to reform.
Meanwhile those community councils with sufficient membership will reform from Wednesday, October 11.
