MSP calls on public to have their say on boundary changes before consultation ends later this month
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PLANS to cut the number of Highland councillors and reorganise wards have been described as “completely unacceptable” by Highlands and Islands MSP Maree Todd.
The Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland is proposing that Sutherland should lose two of its six councillors and become one ward rather than two. Skye and Caithness are also pegged to lose a councillor each.
However the Inverness councillors would see their numbers boosted from 12 to 18.
These moves would see the overall number of councillors go down by two, from 74 to 72.
Ms Todd is unhappy with the proposals, saying that rural communities need more representation not less.
“What is clear is that these proposals demonstrate a complete lack of understanding of the diverse and unique issues facing rural and remote communities,” she said.
She also pointed out that the redrawn Sutherland super ward would be bigger than the vast majority of UK and Scottish parliamentary constituencies.
With the challenges of dealing with Brexit and the Covid pandemic, there could not be a worse moment to cut the number of councillors, she said.
Ms Todd is to write to the Commission expressing her dismay while also meeting with Highland Council leader Margaret Davidson to discuss the matter.
She is also calling on the public to express their views by taking part in a consultation which will run until January 26.
Ronnie Hinds, chairman of the Commission, wants members of the public, community groups, and other local bodies to look at the proposals and submit their views, whether they support or oppose the proposals, before the deadline.
He said: “We expect our recommendations, if accepted, to be in place for the next local government elections in May 2022.”
“We have taken account of the Scottish Elections (Reform) Act that will allow the use of two-member and five-member wards to design wards that consider local ties in Caithness and Dingwall and create more easily identifiable ward boundaries in Inverness and to the south of Inverness. Under our proposals there are no changes to the boundaries of six of the existing wards.”
The Commission is required to conduct electoral reviews at intervals of eight to 12 years.
Mr Hinds added: “One of the main reasons we undertake reviews is that the population, and therefore the electorate, of any local authority area is constantly changing, with migration into or out of areas as well as within the same area. As a result of these changes, some councillors may represent considerably more or fewer electors than other councillors in the same council area.”
The Commission conducted a consultation on its proposals with Highland Council last year and is now conducting a 12 week public consultation which will run until January 26. For more information and to put forward your view, visit: shorturl.at/lmDE5
