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About community councils

Information on community councils and how to get involved

Last updated

07 Nov 2023

About community councils

A Community Council is a voluntary organisation set up by statute by the Local Authority and run by local residents to act on behalf of its area. As the most local tier of elected representation, Community Councils play an important role in local democracy. Community Councils are made up of people who care about their communities and want to make their area a better place to live. Community Councillors represent local people, voice peoples’ views on important decisions which affect them and work with others to improve services. A range of people must be part of a Community Council so different opinions and ideas are heard.

Your Community Council

There is provision for 42 Community Council within the Stirling Council area which are based on identifiable communities as far as possible. Elections for Community Councils take place approximately every four years (dependent on local elections) where people are nominated to stand as new Community Councillors. If there are more nominations than places on the Community Council, a postal ballot takes place. The next Community Council elections will take place in 2023.

Community Councils are always keen to hear from local people and want more people to get involved in their work and local projects that improve the area.

Governance

Community Councils are independent voluntary organisations set up by the Local Authority and governed by a Scheme of Establishment. The Scheme sets out guidance for the mutual exchange of information between the Council and each Community Council and guides on other administrative matters.

 

Being involved

Community Councils

Every community in the Stirling area can have a Community Council. They represent the communities' views represent local people, voice peoples’ views on important decisions which affect them and work with others to improve services. They also have an important role to play in commenting on how plans and issues affect their communities - for example, Stirling Council must consult them on planning and some licensing issues.

Coming along

All Community Council meetings are public meetings where residents can come along to listen to business, give their views or bring concerns to the notice of the Community Council. Meetings are usually monthly with an Annual General Meeting (AGM) once a year. For more information on when and where your local Community Council meets choose your area in the Your Community page.

Joining your Community Council

Every four or five years (dependent on local elections) people who are interested in improving their communities are nominated as Community Councillors to represent that community's views and work with others to improve their area.

To be a Community Councillor you need to be:

  • over 16 years of age; and
  • on the electoral register for the area you wish to represent; and
  • living in the Community Council area you wish to represent.

The next Community Council elections will take place in 2023.

At other times anyone interested in joining can be co-opted by the Community Council if they have vacancies. If you are interested in being involved contact your local Community Council. Contact details are in the Community pages.

Review

Following the conclusion of an extensive consultation exercise, on 23 August 2018 Stirling Council agreed to adopt an Amended Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils.

Adopted Governing Documents

Adopted boundary changes -

History

The review started in September 2017 and subsequently, there were two 8 weeks and one 4 week consultation periods. All of the information generated through these consultations were reported back to Council at Special Meetings.

An overview of findings from the review (September 2017 to August 2018) can be found here.

Elections

Approximately every four years, people who are interested in improving their communities are asked to come forward as Community Councillors to represent that community's views and work with others to improve their area.

Boundary maps

Election results

You can read results from the 2018, 2019, 2022 and 2023 community council elections on our community council election results page.

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