Update on Community Council Interim by-Elections
Argyll and Bute Council · 7 May 2024
Back to Helensburgh and Lomond Area Community Planning Group — 7 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 Helensburgh & Lomond Area Community Planning Group 7 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 Helensburgh & Lomond 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: Rhu & Shandon – 8 candidates for 10 vacancies Garelochhead – 0 candidate for 7 vacancies Cove & Kilcreggan – 6 candidates for 7 vacancies Arrochar, Tarbet & Ardlui – 0 candidates for 5 vacancies Rosneath & Clynder – 0 candidates for 6 vacancies Luss & Arden – 0 candidates for 3 vacancies Helensburgh – 3 candidates for 2 vacancies Cardross – 0 candidates for 2 vacancies Partners may note from the above that there were more candidates than vacancies received for Helensburgh Community Council and therefore there will be an election 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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in this area. In accordance with the provisions in the Scheme, this election will be an all postal ballot. Prior to the by-election there were 42 vacancies across the Community Councils in the Helensburgh & Lomond area. Figures throughout the areas don’t differ significantly, although in this area there were a higher concentration of new members over fewer community councils, however Helensburgh Community Council is the only contested election in the local local authority area. Conclusion A total of 16 candidates will be elected to serve on 3 different community councils at 11am on 2nd May 2024. There were no rejected nominations but 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 3 co-opted members across the Helensburgh & Lomond 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