The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Bid to postpone Fife’s community council polls knocked back
Councillor claims people have not been given enough notice before registration deadline on Friday
A bid to see Fife’s upcoming community council elections delayed has failed – despite fears local people are in the dark about the looming polls.
The first community council elections since 2014 will be held on October 4 but St Andrews Conservative councillor Dominic Nolan believes people wishing to participate have not been given enough notice before the voter registration deadline, which falls on Friday.
Mr Nolan said community councils were only made aware of the deadline date on August 1, noting that Fife Council only issued a press release and updated its website the following day.
However, the local authority has rejected those claims and stressed community councils have known about the vote for months.
Mr Nolan has called for the community council elections to be postponed.
“Community councils play a vital role in our democracy and are the closest
Community council elections are notorious for seeing a low number of volunteers step forward. COUNCILLOR DOMINIC NOLAN
level of representation for the people of Fife,” he said. “However, community council elections are notorious for seeing a low number of volunteers step forward and contested elections are exceedingly rare.
“This deadline has been inadequately advertised and leaves little time for an organised effort to get people registered.
“Steps should have been taken much sooner to advertise the registration deadline in order to find more volunteers for community councils than we have in the past.
“These elections should be postponed, as some have in the past, so Fife Council can dedicate more time and resources to ensure a high engagement with the election process.
“Increased turnout and contested elections will further inform and improve the activities of community councils by bringing them closer to the communities they serve.”
Community council elections are held every four years in Fife, giving local people the chance to have a voice in their neighbourhoods. The region currently boasts 85 active community councils out of a potential 105, and officials are keen to encourage more people to make a difference in their local areas.
In response to Mr Nolan’s concerns, Mike Melville, electoral services manager, said community councils were first notified in May of the intention to hold the elections on October 4.
“We’ve had no concerns expressed from any community council on the date of the elections, either in response to the original email or the more recent one advising of the registration deadline,” Mr Melville added.