How to get involved with Community Councils
Community Councils provide a key role within their local communities and offer a wealth of local knowledge and experience that when shared with us can help deliver better services.
Community Councils have a statutory right to be consulted on local planning issues and while there is no statutory requirement for local authorities to consult Community Councils on licensing matters they are considered as ‘competent objectors’. Community Councils may appoint representatives to attend meetings of the Licensing Board and speak in support of objections.
They are the strongest means of becoming involved with your local area and membership will support a greater understanding of the workings of local government and what is going on locally and nationally.
Get involved with Community Councils
We encourages residents and local interest groups to get involved and become members of their local Community Council and/or attend meetings.
You can get involved by
- becoming a Community Councillor
- attending your community council's regular public meetings
- email your local community council or visit Community Council website, developed by Improvement Service, as part of the Scottish Government's work, in collaboration with COSLA, to enhance the role of community Councils.
How to become a Community Councillor
Each Community Council has a prescribed minimum and maximum membership number which is detailed in the Scheme for Community Councils governance document.
Where a Community Council has membership vacancies then you may be able to become a member. Types of membership include
- Elected member
- Co-opted member
- Nominated representative member of a Local Interest Group
- Associate representative
- Ex-officio representative
Candidates wishing to stand for election or co-option must be 16 years and over and reside in the Community Council boundary and be named on the electoral register for that area.
If there are no current vacancies in your local Community Council then you can still attend meetings and provide your input to matters discussed.
The Scheme for Community Councils also provides further information about membership including
- membership of Community Councils
- eligibility of elected members
- nominations and elections process
- filling of casual vacancies through co-option or Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM).
Download Community Council resources
Contact your local Community Council
Contact your local Community Council in Edinburgh directly to attend their meetings
