Update on Community Council Interim by-Elections
Argyll and Bute Council · 30 April 2024
Back to Bute and Cowal Area Community Planning Group — 30 April 2024 and its agenda
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Argyll and Bute Community Planning Partnership Bute & Cowal Area Community Planning Group 30 April 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 Bute & Cowal 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 17 valid nominations were received during that period. This can be broken down as follows: Colintraive & Glendaruel – 0 candidates for 3 vacancies Cairndow – 0 candidate for 3 vacancies Lochgoil – 1 candidates for 3 vacancies Strachur & District – 5 candidates for 6 vacancies Kilfinan – 1 candidates for 6 vacancies (Note: there were 6 vacancies included but after the Notice of Uncontested Election was issued, a further vacancy was reported and this community council will remain dormant as it does not have sufficient members to allow the Council to establish a community council for the area) Hunter’s Quay – 2 candidates for 4 vacancies Kilmun – 4 candidates for 4 vacancies Ardentinny – 1 candidates 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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Sandbank – 0 candidates for 14 vacancies (Note: Community Council will remain dormant due to insufficient numbers to establish a community council for the area) Dunoon – 1 candidate for 2 vacancies South Cowal – 1 candidate for 6 vacancies Bute – 1 candidate for 7 vacancies Prior to the by-election there were 69 vacancies across the 12 Community Councils in the Bute & Cowal 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 and 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 17 candidates will be elected to serve on 9 different community councils at 11am on 2nd May 2024. There were no rejected nominations but unfortunately 3 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 7 co-opted members across the Bute & Cowal 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