Nairn community councils could merge under new Highland Council proposals
Change could be on the cards for local representation across Nairnshire with a potential merger of Nairn’s two community councils up for debate.
Boundary changes are also a possibility as part of a Highland-wide review of community councils, with a public consultation launched last week.
As part of a raft proposals put forward to Highland councillors in December the most significant potential change would see the two town community councils - Nairn River and Nairn West and Suburban - merged, the latter itself the result of a previous merger in 2015.
Should the merger be approved it would see a single community council responsible for representing a population of 10,000, making it the largest community council by this measure in the Highlands.
The current largest is Thurso, representing just over 7300 people.
The possibility of a single community council covering the whole of Nairn has long been debated, with arguments in favour citing successful previous mergers and the benefits that would arise from the pooling of resources, while those against worry about diluting representation.
Both Nairn West and Suburban and Nairn River Community Councils are due to meet this week to discuss the proposals.
Other mooted changes would see the area covered by East Nairnshire Community Council, which has been in abeyance since 2022, split in half and merged with Cawdor and West Nairnshire Community Council to the west, and Auldearn Community Council to the east. The boundary proposed would follow the route of the A939, which runs across the current East Nairnshire area.
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In his regular email newsletter to constituents Nairn and Cawdor councillor Paul Oldham said this week: “I know there are strong views both for and against creating a Nairn Community Council, but I think the third (proposal - to split the current inactive East Nairnshire Community Council area into two) is probably sensible in principle, given that too few of the residents of the current East Nairnshire CC area have come forward to form a council the last few times it’s been attempted.”
Other proposals included in the draft document on representation suggest increasing the maximum number of youth members in a bid to encourage greater participation by young people.
The consultation document published by Highland Council states: “As the most local tier of elected representation, community councils play an important role in local democracy.
“They bridge the gap between local authorities and communities and help to make public bodies aware of the opinions and needs of the communities they represent.
“In reviewing the scheme, we want to consider how it can best support the work, operation and sustainability of community councils.
“It is important that you as community councils and the public are involved, and we welcome your views.
The consultation will be open to the public until April 9.
A Highland Council spokesperson said that regular reviews of the community council set up provide an opportunity to reflect on new ways of working; consider settlement patterns which may have changed over time; support community councillors who may consider there are more effective ways of working and communities who may also have their own ideas about how a community council could operate more effectively; better represent an area by changing boundaries, encouraging more youth representation and encouraging more participative consultation.
Feedback on the proposals can be provided here
Print copies of the survey can also be obtained by emailing ccreview@highland.gov.uk or by writing to Chief Executive’s Office, Highland Council, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness IV3 5NX.
