Changes to Moray's community council model
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MORAY councillors have agreed changes to Moray’s community council model, standing orders and code of conduct.
A boundary change also comes into effect for 10 properties at Upper Hempriggs, which moves them out of the Heldon Community Council area into Findhorn and Kinloss.
Many of the amendments have arisen as a result of issues raised during the last term of community councils and have been made in consultation with current administrations.
Main changes to the scheme include updating references to social media, training and national standards of community engagement, alongside membership eligibility clauses and formally allowing remote meetings and voting.
Membership within community councils has prompted the reduction of the period of a co-opted member to reach full membership from 12 to six months, and further election amendments are designed to avoid unsuccessful elections in future.
Council convener Cllr Shona Morrison said: "With the next community council elections in Moray due this autumn, making these relatively minor amendments to the scheme future-proofs the process for our local communities.
"The small boundary change also more closely aligns the properties at Upper Hempriggs with their local government ward boundary and we’re grateful to the respective community councils for their input to this change.
"We’re looking ahead now to the next community council elections in August this year and I’d encourage anyone interested in becoming more involved in their community to engage with us and find out more via our website."
The newly agreed scheme framework is for the period 2021-25 with regular reviews and can be found alongside the report to full council online.