Council hears of lack of candidates for community council elections

A DOZEN community councils in Argyll and Bute cannot form after elections on Thursday April 26 because too few candidates stood.

Nominations for new community councillors closed on March 22. Argyll and Bute papers revealed there were only two contested elections – one in Jura and one in Kilninver and Kilmelford.

A total of 42 community councils were formed by uncontested elections, including Colonsay, Craignish and Islay in Mid Argyll and Kintyre. There are 12 community councils that cannot be formed due to insufficient nominations being received – less than 50 per cent of the maximum membership level.

These include Isle of Gigha, Ardrishaig, Oban, Seil and Easdale, Dunbeg, Lismore, Cove and Kilcreggan, Rosneath and Clynder, Cardross, Ardentinny, Sandbank and Bute.

‘We have 20 per cent of community councils that would not be operational,’ Councillor George Freeman told last Thursday’s council meeting in Kilmory Castle.

‘Thirty per cent of community council places would be vacant.’

The council leader’s report added: ‘In most cases we are one or two short of being able to form a community council but there are four community councils where we need three, four or five candidates to be nominated. We’re looking at a timetable for a by-election to fill these.’