Groups fear power plan

The chairman of a north-east community council has condemned plans to take power away from the local groups, which he calls the front line of government.

Aberdeenshire councillors are meeting in Woodhill House today to consider overhauling the legislation which governs community councils. Under new powers, council officers – rather than elected officials – would have the power to suspend community councillors.

Mark Leith, chairman of the Fordyce, Sandend and District group, said: “The fundamental problem

“We’ll be answerable to employees of the council”

is that rather than being answerable to our elected councillors, we’ll be answerable to employees of the council. It’s about democracy.”

In her report to full council, Aberdeenshire’s chief legal officer Karen Wiles said the local authority has a “duty” to review the scheme of establishment from time to time. The last time the legislation was considered was in 2006.

She said community councils could never be fully dissolved without the approval of Aberdeenshire councillors.