Local Community Councils are obliged to put themselves up for re-election every 4 years. If the CC election is uncontested, the final meeting of the present Strathdearn Community Council will be on October 10th 2023. If the election is contested the final meeting will be on 14th November 2023.At midnight of that day the council will be dissolved. Candidates are invited to put their names forward for election to the next Community Council. The following description of the procedure has been received from Highland Council:
Dear Community Council,
I attach a copy of the notice of Election that will be published on Monday 4 September 2023 on the Council’s web-site at www.highland.gov.uk/ccelections
Candidate’s wishing to put themselves forward as a Community Council Member need to self-nominate themselves by completing the online form that will be available on our website. It’s simple and should take only approximately 5 minutes to complete, all they have to do is submit their contact details, name of community council they wish to represent, confirm they are eligible and provide their electoral number. In order for the Candidate to obtain their electoral number, this can be done by them completing the electoral number request form or it is available from the Electoral Registration Office by emailing ero@highland.gov.uk or telephoning 0800 393783.
The cut off date for submitting an online form is 12noon on Tuesday 3 October 2023 and published thereafter by Wednesday 4 October 2023 will be the statements of persons nominated on the community council elections webpage.
The Elections Team or Ward Managers are available to assist anyone that has difficulty accessing or completing the online form by emailing ccelection@highland.gov.uk or telephoning 01349 886657.
We want to have all our 156 Community Councils formed so please share and use our resources toolkit to download posters, leaflets or share messages on social media that may useful to notify local residents about Community Council elections.
To encourage participation, some of the Council Fleet vehicles will be driving around the highlands with our magnetic signage on display as per sample below and we will be issuing press releases and sending out key messages on social media.
Candidates will have up until 12noon on Tuesday 10 October 2023 if they wish to withdraw their candidacy and ballot papers will be posted put on Tuesday 31 October 2023 for any that require to be contested.
Existing Community Councils must be dissolved by 11.59pm on the key dates listed below.
Highland Council have also sent the following guidance for our Community Council during the election and nomination period. Further queries should be directed to: communitycouncil.support-townhouse@highland.gov.uk
Can we continue to meet?
Yes. Community Councils can continue to meet up until they are dissolved.
When are Community Councils dissolved?
This depends on the number of nominations received.
Uncontested Community Councils i.e. enough nominations to form but not to go to ballot.
These Community Councils are dissolved at 11.59 on 10 October.
Community Councils going to ballot i.e. more nominations than places.
These Community Councils are dissolved at 11.59 on 27 November.
Not enough nominations received
These community Councils will be dissolved at 11.59 on 10 October
They will need to wait until January for a further round of nominations to see if they can form.
When is the first meeting of the new Community Councils?
Uncontested
The first meeting will be called by the Ward Manager – in conjunction with the new Community Councillors – as soon as possible after 11 October
Contested
The first meeting will be called by the Ward Manager – in conjunction with the new Community Councillors – as soon as possible after 28 November
Handover period
There is no official handover period but the former Community Councillors are expected to had over all relevant paperwork to the new Community Council as soon as possible.
As part of the Scheme, Community Councils are required to produce an interim account at the end of September which is to assist this handover to the new Community Council.
Existing payments
All existing payments – agreed by the existing Community Council – should continue to be honoured, up until the new Community Council takes office. This could also be for spend during the November/December period. E.g. the current CC takes a decision at the September meeting to order a Christmas tree for December and pay for it in advance.
Visit Document Library if you are looking for any of the following: Newsletters; Minutes of meetings; Application forms; Accounts, projects and other info on SCD and SCCT.
We are excited to screen our 2-minute film showcasing our local attractions and The Strathdearn Complex. Journey from the wild high glens and their wonderful nature, along the River Findhorn, to the Tomatin Distillery on to Loch Moy and the excitement of the Moy Games.
Walk-through and aerial footage of The Strathdearn Hub
