Governance
All community councils are governed by the appropriate local authority of which there are 32 in Scotland. Sleat Community Council is one of 16 CCs in Skye and Raasay of which 14 are currently formed. Only the community areas of Glendale and Portree and Braes were not able to form by April 2024.
All community councils are formed for a period of four years.
In Highland the governance of community councils is through the Scheme of Establishment for Community Councils which can be found in full at this link. This was last updated by Highland Council in September 2019.
This Scheme is based upon the model Scheme published by the Scottish Government in March 2009 for use by Local Authorities. The Scheme encompasses a suite of documents which include: • Community Council Boundary Maps (appendix 1) • Community Council Membership Numbers (appendix 2) • Standard Community Council Constitution (appendix 3) • Standard Community Council Standing Orders (appendix 4) • Code of Conduct for Community Councillors (appendix 5)
Within the scheme there are guidance notes covering a range of relevant topics:
- Guidance for the recording of meetings.
- Community Councils' FAQs
- Highland Council Community Council Complaints Guidance
- Code of Conduct for Community Councillors is shown as Appendix 5 on Page 42 of the Scheme
- If you would like to become a member of a community council this link gives further information.
With the formation of the new community council members have drawn up a 'Behaviour and Actions Policy' for both community councillors and members of the public. The policy can be found at this link.
The community council has a 'Social and Digital Media Policy' which can be viewed here.
Community councils are made up entirely of volunteers and a key requirement is that members are required to be on the electoral role and be resident in the Sleat Community Council boundary area as shown below. Sleat's membership is determined by the numbers of the electoral role and currently for our area 8 members are permitted with the addition, if required, of two youth members.
If you would like to know anything further about the work of SCC or would like to consider being a member please get in touch with any of the seven members currently in office or email info@sleatcommunitycouncil.org.uk Full information on becoming a community councillor can found here.
For further useful information on Sleat and the Scheme please see our LINKS page.
Update for the Scheme of Establishment for Community Councils in Scotland 12th December 2024
Review of the Highland Scheme of Establishment for Community Councils 2024/25
Ath-sgrùdadh de Sgeama Stèidheachaidh na Gàidhealtachd airson Chomhairlean Coimhearsnachd 2024/25
There is circulated Report No. HC/40/24 by the Chief Officer - Housing and Communities.
The Council is asked to:-
i. agree to the formal review of the Highland Scheme of Establishment for Community Councils as required under section 53 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973;
ii. agree to the draft proposals outlined in Section 6 of the report and in appendices 1-3 of the report;
iii. note that a three-month consultation will take place seeking public views on the draft proposals and seeking further representations for amendments to the Scheme; starting in January 2025; and
iv. note that a report outlining the feedback and proposed amendments will come forward to Council on 8 May 2025.
The report can be seen at this link.