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New date for Highland Council by-election


By Val Sweeney

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Highland Council has announced a new date for the by-election in Aird and Loch Ness ward.
Highland Council has announced a new date for the by-election in Aird and Loch Ness ward.

A new date has been confirmed for the by-election in Highland Council's Aird and Loch Ness ward.

Voters will take to the polls on Thursday March 11.

A date for a by-election was originally set for November 5 following the death of Councillor George Cruickshank in April.

But given the current public health advice in Scotland, council chief executive and returning officer Donna Manson decided to postpone it.

Under normal circumstances a by-election must be held within three months of the vacancy arising

But under the provisions of Section 70 of the Coronavirus Act 2020, the filling of the vacancy can be postponed where it is reasonable and appropriate to do so and a date should be fixed for the poll to be held as soon as it reasonably practicable.

Mrs Manson said: "I have formally consulted with Scottish Ministers and the convener of the Electoral Management Board for Scotland on the postponement of the by-election and the fixing of this new revised date.

"Our election team will be contacting candidates that had previously submitted their papers to advise them of this new date.

"In February next year, the notice of poll will be published at which point we will be inviting anyone wishing to put themselves forward as candidates to submit their applications."

The late Cllr Cruickshank (Conservative) was one of four councillors representing the ward.

The other ward members are Cllrs Helen Carmichael (Independent), Margaret Davidson (Independent) and Emma Knox (Scottish National Party).

Related story: Council postpones by-election until next year due to coronavirus


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