Community council elections on the horizon

PEOPLE in Shetland will be able to put their name forward for the next round of community council elections in the coming weeks.

A notice of election will be posted on Friday 12 September, with nomination forms validated from 15 September.

The closing date for nominations for all 18 community councils in Shetland is on Thursday 16 October at 4pm, with a notice of uncontested elections being posted the following day.

If there will be a contested election then ballot papers will be issued on Friday 31 October, with the closing date for the return of papers on Thursday 20 November.

Votes will then be counted and announced the following day in community councils that have more candidates than vacant seats.

Lerwick Community Council (LCC) heard on Monday night that Shetland Islands Council’s communications team are looking to launch a publicity campaign encouraging people to stand to be a community councillor.

With election day on 20 November, all existing community council members will continue in post until midnight on Wednesday 19 November.

Uncontested members are elected from 11am on 20 November.

A review of Shetland’s community councils earlier this year ended with no changes to the 18 councils.