Deadline extended for community council vacancies after disruption

PEOPLE have been given more time to submit nomination papers for Shetland’s community council elections after yesterday’s (Thursday) communications blackout and postal strike.

The deadline for submission was 4pm on Thursday, but many in Shetland would have been unable to file electronic entries.

However five of Shetland’s 18 community councils had achieved their full complement of required nominations come 4pm.

Shetland Islands Council has decided that no further nominations will be accepted for these community councils. They are Bressay, Fetlar, Nesting and Lunnasting, Sandsting and Aithsting and Skerries.

The returning officer will declare all valid nominations received by the deadline as duly elected, and a notice of uncontested elections will be published on Monday (24 October).

But numerous vacancies remain Shetland’s other community councils, and the deadline for nominations has been extended to 4pm on Monday.

By 4pm yesterday six vacancies apiece were remaining in Delting and Yell, which have a full complement of 12 and nine respectively.

There were five vacancies remaining in Dunrossness, Lerwick and Scalloway, with four left in Gulberwick, Cunningsburgh and Quarff and Whalsay.

The community councils in Northmavine, and Sandness and Walls, had three vacancies remaining.

Two vacancies were remaining in Burra and Trondra, Sandwick and Whiteness and Weisdale, while Unst had one vacancy.

Nomination forms can be delivered to the elections office at 8 North Ness, Lerwick, or sent by email – which must be a scan or a photo of a signed nomination paper – to returning.officer@shetland.gov.uk.