Published on:
11
November 2015
Following their Annual General Meetings last month, two of Clackmannanshire's nine community councils have announced that they are recruiting new members.
Menstrie Community Council is seeking to fill seven vacancies in its membership. After a highly successful year in which volunteers came forward to help with the work which the community council carries out in the interests of the whole community, such as the Annual Gala, the community council is inviting residents to help strengthen the voice of community by formalising their role as active citizens and putting themselves forward as community councillors.
There are also seven vacancies on Alloa Community Council. The Alloa Community Council area is the largest in Clackmannanshire and it comprises a range of diverse communities. People who feel they can help drive their community's interests are encouraged to join the community council.
In accordance with standard procedure, Clackmannanshire Council will now initiate an interim election so that the people of Alloa and Menstrie can choose who becomes Community Councillors. The first stage of an interim election invites the electorate of the Community Council area to make nominations to fill the places.
Clackmannanshire Council recognises Community Councils as an important channel of communication about what matters to their community The role community councils play in gathering, co-ordinating and articulating the priorities of their community is vital to decision-making on Council services.
Provost Tina Murphy said "One of the purposes of community councils is that they give the people the power to choose who represents them at community level and I strongly urge the people of Alloa and Menstrie to use that power, by standing for election to the community council and by proposing or seconding a nominee. Ideally, it would be good to see Alloa and Menstrie submit enough nominations to take them to ballot. A ballot would send a strong signal to public agencies and the public alike that these community councils legitimately and openly represent their communities."
The nomination process is simple - just fill out one of the nomination forms and get two people to support you. Anyone who is over the age of 16 and who appears on the electoral roll in the Community Council area can stand.
Closing date for nominations is Wednesday 2nd December 2015. For further information or to obtain a nomination pack, please contact Clackmannanshire Council Elections Office, on 01259 452266,email elections@clacks.gov.uk or see ClacksWeb