Fresh chance to re-form Ardgay and District Community Council after group suspended following mass resignations
A fresh attempt is being made to re-form a Sutherland community council which collapsed earlier this year after four of its five members resigned.
Highland Council is now holding interim elections and inviting nominations for Ardgay and District Community Council which was suspended in February.
The shock resignations came just months after the council was re-formed in the October 2023 regional community council elections.
Council chairperson Silvia Muras, Anna McInnes, Sabrina Ross and coopted member Dr Buster Crabb all stood down on February 19 ahead of a meeting that evening.
The meeting had been due to discuss complaints relating to an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) held in November 2023.
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Silvia Muras is reported to have said at the time: “Everybody has a different reason” for resigning.
The mass resignations meant the community council no longer had a quorum.
Only one councillor remained - vice-chairperson Samantha Kane, the owner of Carbisdale Castle and whose plans to buy land at the mansion were the subject of the EGM.
However Ms Kane could not make any decisions or speak on behalf of or otherwise represent the community or community council as a community councillor.
Highland Council has confirmed that Ms Kane will be automatically relected if the community council is reformed.
A spokesperson for the local authority said: “Under the Community Council Scheme we can confirm that at the interim election, the sole remaining community councillor will be automatically elected and seven places will be open for nominations.
“Should the community council fail to form at this stage - that is less than three nominations for the seven remaining places - then the community council will be dissolved.”
Elections are also being held for two other community councils - Kinlochleven and Strathglass.
Anyone wishing to put their name forward for election must complete and return an election notice and online nomination form by a deadline of 12pm on Tuesday, September 3. The forms can be found on the council’s website: www.highland.govuk/ccelections
The statements of persons nominated for each community council will be published on the council’s website by Wednesday, September 4.
Community Councils are voluntary organisations that act as a voice for their local area and work to make positive changes. They represent the views and concerns of local people within their area across a wide range of issues such as new buildings and roads,and local services and facilities.
