'I think Melvich being in abeyance is just a blip': Councillor confident community council will reform
North, west and central Sutherland councillor Marianne Hutchison has said she is confident Melvich will be able to form a new community council.
The area's former community council fell into abeyance at its AGM earlier this month when it was found that it did not have enough elected members.
There are a total of eight seats on Melvich Community Council.
Cllr Hutchison, who was at the meeting said: “The meeting was well attended, a new chairperson was elected and the community council believed they had the four members required to maintain them to the next meeting, giving time to follow up on a few potential recruits.
“The problem seems to have been that one of the four had been co-opted rather than elected and they need at least four elected members.”
Highland Council is running an interim election to give an opportunity for Melvich - along with another seven community councils across Highland - to reform.
Applications for a seat on the council should be submitted in person or by email no later than noon on Monday, October 10.
Mrs Hutchison said: “I think Melvich being in abeyance is just a blip and will be resolved at the first opportunity - that is in October.”
Anyone thinking of standing must fulfil the eligibility criteria - they must be aged 16 or over by the date of the close of nominations, be registered as an elector on the local government electoral register and be a resident of the community council area.
Nomination forms can be downloaded from www.highland.gov.uk/elections or requested by email to election@highland.gov.uk
Completed nominations forms for Melvich must be submitted to ward manager Phil Tomalin (Phil.Tomalin@highland.gov.uk) by the deadline.
Kinlochbervie recently reestablished its community council after it fell by the wayside. The new community council met for the first time yesterday.
