More community councillors needed

ALMOST 50 community council seats across Shetland remain vacant after nominations for the 162 seats available closed earlier this week.

Announcing the results of the nomination process on Friday, Shetland Islands Council’s returning officer Jan Riise said he was pleased with the initial response for candidates to come forward.

He said that 102 places in the 18 different community councils had been filled so far.

Seats will be contested through postal ballot on 18 November in the Walls ward of the Walls & Sandness community council where five candidates will battle it out for the four seats, and the Whalsay community council where eight nominations were received for the seven seats.

Mr Riise will try to fill the remaining 47 vacancies, spread across virtually all community council areas, in a second round of nomination due to commence in January next year.

He said: “This first round of nominations allowed existing candidates to decide whether they were going to stand for re-election and any new candidates to come forward. 

“So, I’m particularly pleased to see 14 new candidates standing and almost two thirds of places being filled. 

“With 47 places still without nominees, it is an excellent opportunity for anyone who is interested in taking part in local democracy to do so. The nomination process for these vacancies will start in January 2011.”

Details of those nominated can be found on the council’s website at: www.shetland.gov.uk/elections/Elections2010.asp