'Ignored' public the reason for failure to form some Inverness community councils, claims community leader
A SENSE that the public is being ignored on local issues is behind a lack of volunteers willing to serve as community councillors in some Inverness neighbourhoods, according to a community leader.
Following a call for candidates to form community councils across the Highlands, 109 attracted the required numbers to reform while another 20 will hold elections because the maximum number of nominations was exceeded.
But 25, including Muirtown, Holm, Lochardil and Drummond, and Kiltarlity, failed to attract half the maximum membership — leaving residents in those areas without a grassroots body to represent their views to Highland Council on matters such as planning.
Catriona Johnson, chairman of the Inverness area community councils forum, was very disappointed some areas had failed to attract sufficient nominations.
"I think it represents the fact community councils and the public do not feel they are being listened to by the council," she said.
"They have consultations which go out to the public and you spend a long time going through documents and canvassing the opinions of the local communities and representations.
"There is a feeling that frequently the council dismisses that. People think that, at the end of the day, nothing is going to change and that the council has already made up its mind.
"I fully understand Highland Council cannot change people’s perceptions but they need to engage them much more to show it is listening to the community."
Mrs Johnson, current chairman of Westhill Community Council, is stepping down from the organisation due to family reasons but also felt it was time for new people to be involved.
She said being a community councillor usually involved attending meetings once a month and many chose to have a break in July and August.
"I also think it is important to encourage some school pupils in their final year to stand," she said.
"It is about representing the views of young people as well as the older generation and hopefully it will encourage more participation in the years to come."
Pat Hayden, chairman of the Crown and City Centre Community Council, was also disappointed that some neighbourhoods had failed to attract sufficient numbers.
"Obviously, in those areas which are not able to form a community council, there must be a degree of apathy and that is serious," Mrs Hayden said.
Although nominations for her area’s community council were oversubscribed, she was disappointed none were from the city centre itself.
Helen Carmichael, Inverness Provost and Aird and Loch Ness councillor, insisted that the views of community councils — whether it was an objection or support — carried a lot of weight when considering planning matters.
"At the end of the day, it has to be a planning reason why something is agreed or withdrawn," she said.
She also noted that, in her own ward, Kiltarlity had been unable to form a community council and pointed out that in recent years it had faced a range of contentious issues including the Beauly-Denny overhead line and wind farm applications.
"I think they get fed up with battling and feeling they are not being listened to because of Scottish Government policy," she said.
"They have put in all that hard work and I think they feel weary."
