South Ronaldsay and Burray community council drive hits the Hup show

Our Community Councils team will be heading to the Hup show on 9 August to encourage local folk to stand in the upcoming community council election for the area.

The South Ronaldsay and Burray community council area – one of 20 around Orkney – has been without a community council for a year.

The drive is now on to encourage community members to nominate themselves to take up this important role, providing a vital grass roots link between the Council and communities.

Overall, five people are needed to form a community council for the area – but eight would be great says Karen Greaves, Corporate Director, Strategy, Performance and Business Solutions:

“There are eight seats available, so just for more hands to the wheel we’d love to see all available seats filled. We always say nominate yourself and bring a friend too. If more than eight folk stand that would trigger a ballot – and that would be fantastic to see.

“As we’ve previously alluded to, if these elections fail to secure five candidates there would be no further opportunity to form a community council until 2027. That’s simply not an option we want to see for South Ronaldsay and Burray, which is why for the first time we’re taking our team to the Show, to do everything we can to let folk know about the nomination process closing soon after that.

“Community Councils are regularly consulted on a wide range of issues and services, not just those run by Orkney Islands Council – so as a community councillor you really are helping shape Orkney.”

Officers from the Council’s ‘CC’ team will be at the Hup show between 10am and 3pm to speak to anyone interested in the role and what being a community councillor involves. They’ll have nomination forms with them for anyone who is keen to nominate themselves then and there.

Anyone wishing to stand should nominate themselves  - they need to be entered on the current Register of Electors for the South Ronaldsay and Burray Community Council area to stand as a candidate. Nominations opened 5 July and will close 15 August at 5pm. Download an application form from www.orkney.gov.uk/communitycouncils