A tenth of Highland community councils to slip into abeyance over lack of interest; 120 to reform unopposed, with a further 20 to see contested elections

ONE in ten community councils in the Highlands are set to collapse into abeyance after insufficient candidates stood for election.

Sixteen of the 156 community councils received fewer nominations than were needed to fill at least half of available seats.

Elsewhere 120 community councils received enough nominees to pass the 50 per cent cut off point, but fewer than needed to fill all of the seats. These councils will officially form on Friday without an election, with all nominees taking up their seats unopposed.

A further 20 councils will be subject to elections after more nominees stood for them than there were vacant seats.

The councils which will slip into abeyance are:

• Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross: Caithness West; Rogart; Tannach and District
• Ross, Skye & Lochaber: Caol; Glendale; Glenfinnan; Mallaig; Portree and Braes; Sheildaig; Spean Bridge, Roy Bridge and Achnacarry; Uig; Waternish
• Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey: Cradlehall and Westhill; Dalwhinnie; Inshes and Milton; Strathnairn

Those councils with more nominees than seats will be subject to elections, with ballot papers posted out on Friday, November 15. They must be returned by 12 noon on Wednesday, December 4.

Councils where elections will take place are:

• Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross: Ardross; Dornoch; Golspie; Tarbat; Thurso; Watten
• Ross, Skye & Lochaber: Ardgour; Aultbea; Dornie and District; Ferintosh; Glenelg and Arnisdale; Kinlochleven; Plockton; West Ardnamurchan.
• Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey: Glenurquhart; Holm; Kilmorack; Nairn River; Strathdearn; Stratherrick and Foyers.

Nominees in contested councils who wish to withdraw from the running have until 4pm on Friday to do so.

The maximum membership of each of the community councils is determined by the population it serves and varies from 7 to 13 members.

The next opportunity for nominations to be made to those community council’s wish have slipped into abeyance will be in February next year.

Full details of the nominations and the list of results are available now from The Highland Council’s website.

When the last Community Council elections were held four years ago, some 25 failed to attract sufficient interest and fell into abeyance.

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