Launch of National Model Scheme for Community Councils

The Spring 2009 Journal of the Association of Scottish Community Councils advises that:

"The Scottish Government, the ASCC and CoSLA have launched the National Model Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils. This is the product of the Government’s CC Working Group, that was given the task of proposing a single Scheme that could be used in every local authority to replace the thirty-two wildly different schemes used by them today.


The model scheme sets out some key principles for CCs, such as:

• All CCllrs directly elected by voters;

• Electoral and voting age for CCllrs set at 16;

• Promotion of contested CC elections.

The Scheme also contains a voluntary Code of Conduct, to which all nominees for election to a CC should sign up when nominated. The Government, the ASCC and CoSLA are jointly urging ALL local authorities to adopt the model scheme as it is written. Local authorities should use the local flexibility allowed within the scheme, but otherwise not make arbitrary changes to the national model."

Why not go along to your local community council meetings (if you do not already do so) to get the latest news as to how Highland Council are progressing with any adoption of the National Model Scheme...

You could also try raising the subject at ward meetings if it has not already been raised.