Proposal to Review the Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils in Argyll and Bute: Phase One Feedback
Argyll and Bute Council · 21 August 2025
Back to Policy and Resources Committee — 21 August 2025 and its agenda
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE LEGAL & REGULATORY SUPPORT 21 AUGUST 2025 PROPOSAL TO REVIEW THE SCHEME FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY COUNCILS IN ARGYLL AND BUTE: PHASE ONE FEEDBACK 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Council agreed at the meeting on 24 April 2025 to conduct an 8-week public consultation which set out suggested amendments to the current Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils in Argyll and Bute. The consultation period ended on 22 June 2025, and the feedback received is outlined at Appendix 1, along with commentary from Officers. The changes proposed have generally been met positively although there are some caveats that the final wording would be useful before responding and some additional minor changes are laid out at section 4.2 of this report. The proposals set out in the initial consultation, and any additions recommended are now incorporated into a draft amended version of the Scheme and Best Practice Agreement. Electorate figures will be updated in the final draft version of the Scheme, so those figures are as up to date as possible. The recommendations are to: - consider and note the feedback received following the stage one consultation outlined in Appendix 1; - agree to carry out a second phase 8-week consultation with the public and community councils, based on the draft revised Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils at Appendix 2 and Best Practice Agreement at Appendix 3; and - note that in terms of the agreed timetable for the review, a further report on the second stage consultation, including consideration of grant funding, and any final proposals will be submitted to a specially convened council meeting on 26 November 2025.
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ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE LEGAL & REGULATORY SUPPORT 21 AUGUST 2025 PROPOSAL TO REVIEW THE SCHEME FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMUNITY COUNCILS IN ARGYLL AND BUTE: PHASE ONE FEEDBACK 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 This report updates the Council on feedback received following an 8-week public consultation on the proposals to amend our local Scheme the Establishment of Community Councils and suggests further amendments based on feedback received. If agreed, a further public consultation will be undertaken on the basis of the updated proposals outlined in Appendix 2 and 3. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS The Committee is invited to: 3.1 consider and note the feedback received following the stage one consultation outlined in Appendix 1; 3.2 agree to carry out a second phase 8-week consultation with the public and community councils, based on the draft revised Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils at Appendix 2 and Best Practice Agreement at Appendix 3; and 3.3 note that in terms of the agreed timetable for the review, a further report on the second stage consultation, including consideration of grant funding, and any final proposals will be submitted to a specially convened council meeting on 26 November 2025. 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 Phase one of the consultation process was carried out between 25 April and 22 June 2025. During the first consultation phase responses were invited from community councils and members of the public. Responses received are set out in Appendix 1, together with feedback from officers.
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4.2 There are further amendments proposed following receipt of phase one feedback. These are as follows: Scheme – Page 5, clarify that it is draft minutes that require to be submitted to the CCLO within 21 days of the meeting having taken place. This is replicated on page 11, 10.4, and page 20, 12(e) Scheme – Page 14, 13.5 - We have amended the Scheme to provide further clarity “the breach is of such minimal significance and materiality (de minimis).” Scheme – Page 22, 14(c) – wording from the Best Practice Agreement (page 14, 5.2) has been added here for consistency. Funding appears to be the main issue raised with calls to join up the administration and discretionary grant, and to increase the grant levels. Grant levels are not defined within the Scheme and the matter of any increase in budget for Community Council grants is one for the Council. However, as part of the stage 2 consultation report, officers could look to provide more detail on funding and bring back further information or recommendations at that time. 4.3 There have been no comments in regard to the boundary changes although discussions with both Lochgilphead and Dunadd Community Councils suggest they are happy with the proposed changes. As with the stage one consultation, there are no implications for the council in terms of the suggested amendments as proposals to amend are consistent with the legal requirements to review an existing Scheme. 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 Having concluded the first phase of consultation to amend the current local Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils, the committee is invited to consider and note the feedback received and agree to carry out a second stage 8-week consultation based on documents at appendix 2 and 3. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy - None 6.2 Financial – proposals to increase administration grant funding would require additional budgetary provision. 6.3 Legal – Proposals are consistent with the Local Government Act (Scotland) Act 1973 6.4 HR – None, the review will be conducted from within existing staff resource. 6.5 Customer Service – None 6.7 Climate Change – None 6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty – An Integrated Impact Assessment has been undertaken and has identified that the review of the Scheme will have a positive impact on communities of place. Community Councils are statutory
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consultees in terms of regulatory matters and the framework of the Scheme facilitates the representation of community views by a properly constituted body. 6.9 Equalities - protected characteristics - None 6.10 Consumer Duty – An Integrated Impact Assessment has been undertaken in and has identified positive impacts on access, representation and redress. The changes to the complaints process will ensure effective opportunities for individuals to seek redress and the framework for the operation of the Community Councils will ensure that access and representation are improved. 6.11 Islands Communities - None 6.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing - None Douglas Hendry Executive Director with responsibility for Legal & Regulatory Support Councillor Mark Irvine - Policy Lead for Community Planning and Corporate Services 11 July 2025 For further information contact: David Logan, Head of Legal & Regulatory Support, Kilmory, Lochgilphead – 01546 604322 or Melissa Stewart, Democratic Services Manager, Kilmory, Lochgilphead – 01546 604331 APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Phase One Feedback & Officer Response Appendix 2 – revised draft amended Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils Appendix 3 – Revised draft Best Practice Agreement