Published on:
05
October 2020
Clackmannanshire Council has initiated a public consultation on the operating arrangements of community councils. This review of existing arrangements has been prompted by the constraints of lockdown which has brought to light the need to ensure that it is possible for community councils to continue to operate even in an ongoing emergency, such as a pandemic.
The first stage of the consultation process asks the public to comment on the boundaries and governance of Clackmannanshire’s community councils. Residents of Clackmannanshire have established a community council to represent each area. The consultation gives residents a chance to tell us if current community council boundaries no longer reflect natural communities of people.
Provost Tina Murphy has welcomed this consultation and the discussion it can generate.
She said: “We have asked for this review of community council governance to be carried out so that community councils can continue to function even in unprecedented circumstances. The timing is providential, as Scotland as a whole is reviewing its local democracy, so this is also an opportunity for a full-scale update to the way community councils work.
“We'll be working with the nine community councils to ensure we receive an informed response to this consultation. They’ll be keen to hear from citizens who have ideas for ways of working which help community councils to represent their communities now and in the future.
“Due to Covid-19 restrictions, our engagement will be mostly online, and we’re keen to hear how you feel about engaging like this in itself, as this too is likely to be considered in any proposals for change”.
There will be an online questionnaire on the Council’s website and opportunities for dialogue through virtual meetings.
This is the first stage of the process. The second phase, which will start early in 2021, will look at how community councils are elected and how they operate generally.
The framework of governance is set out by the Council in the Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils. This can be viewed on the Council’s website where there is more detail also about the consultation and general information on community councils.