Update on Community Council Interim by-Elections
Argyll and Bute Council · 8 May 2024
Back to Oban Lorn & the Isles Area Community Planning Group — 8 May 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership Oban, Lorn & The Isles Area Community Planning Group 8 March 2024 UPDATE ON COMMUNITY COUNCIL INTERIM BY-ELECTIONS This briefing provides an update for partners to note on the membership of community councils in the Oban, Lorn & the Isles area following the closure of the nomination period for the interim by-elections. The briefing is for noting and relevant discussion. Summary Detail The Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils in Argyll and Bute provides for an interim by-election to be held. This generally takes place at the mid- term of the 4 year term. The Returning Officer set the date of 2nd May 2024 for the by-elections. A nomination process commenced on 7th March and concluded on 21st March. A total of 25 valid nominations were received during that period. This can be broken down as follows: Mull – 4 candidates for 10 vacancies Iona – 0 candidate for 2 vacancies Coll – 1 candidates for 2 vacancies Tiree – 4 candidates for 5 vacancies Oban – 2 candidates for 9 vacancies Glenorchy & Innishail – 2 candidates for 7 vacancies Taynuilt – 1 candidates for 4 vacancies Avich & Kilchrenan – 3 candidates for 5 vacancies Luing – 2 candidates for 3 vacancies Kilninver & Kilmelford – 0 candidate for 3 vacancies Seil & Easdale - 1 candidate for 2 vacancies Community Council Interim by-elections are taking place on 2nd May 2024. The elections mark the mid-term process. This process required that all vacancies on all community councils were included in the interim by-elections. In addition those who have been appointed by the community council as co-optee will no longer hold office as such on the day of election unless they have successfully stood for election.
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Kilmore & Kilbride – 2 candidate for 4 vacancies Dunbeg – 2 candidates for 5 vacancies Lismore – 0 candidates for 3 vacancies Appin – 0 candidates for 3 vacancies Connel – 0 candidates for 2 vacancies Ardchattan – 1 candidate for 3 vacancies Prior to the by-election there were 72 vacancies across the 12 Community Councils in the Oban, Lorn & the Isles area. From the detail above it can be noted that there will not be any contested elections. Figures throughout the areas don’t differ significantly, although this area has had the highest intake of new councillors. There is only one contested election in the entire local authority area. Again, this is generally reflective of the position when it comes to contested elections. Conclusion A total of 25 candidates will be elected to serve on 12 different community councils at 11am on 2nd May 2024. There were 2 rejected nominations as the candidates were not on the electoral register and therefore not eligible to stand as a candidate. Unfortunately 5 community councils did not secure any additional members through the by-election process. Those community councils who have vacancies remaining after the by-election will be entitled to fill up to 1/3 of their vacancies by co-option going forward. There were 8 co-opted members across the Oban, Lorn & the Isles area that did not submit nomination papers. Those members cannot be co-opted again and will be deemed to stand down on the 2nd May 2024. For further information, please contact: Melissa Stewart, Governance Officer, Argyll and Bute Council (01546) 604331 Melissa.stewart@argyll-bute.gov.uk