Update from Argyll and Bute Council

Full elections for all community councils took place on 20^th October 2022.  At this point Kate Stephens and John MacColl were the only candidates elected.  As this did not result in at least 50% of the vacancies being filled (the minimum required to establish a community council) a further by-election was necessary – as is set out within the Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils in Argyll and Bute (The Scheme). 

The by-election took place on 15^th December 2022 and a further 2 candidates (John Burns and Zak Gillan) were elected to serve with Kate and John.  That still did not reach the minimum 50% threshold.  It was agreed to hold a further by-election as Kilfinan were not the only community council that could not be established at that time.

The further by-election was on 9^th March 2023.  No additional candidates came forward at that time and the decision was reached that Kilfinan and Sandbank Community Councils would be placed in dormant state until such time as there was sufficient interest from the community to form a sustainable community council for the area.

As provided for within the Scheme, the Returning Officer interim by-elections at the mid-point of the electoral term (year 2 of the 2022-26 term).  These are generally required to formalise co-option of candidates as they cannot serve more than 2 years maximum.  The decision was made to include both dormant community councils.  The elections for this were on 2^nd May 2024 and Ed Pybus was elected.  At this point we did think we had reached the minimum membership level however it was later discovered that Zak had left the area although had not formally resigned.  However, the Scheme is such that were someone leaves the area they no longer qualify to be a community councillor and therefore the number of community councillors was again below the threshold.

Following “sufficient interest from the community” that might lead to a strong and sustainable community council being formed.  An election took place on 24^th October 2024 when Catriona Renfrew was elected.  Again, we understood that this reached the minimum membership number required to formally establish the community council but no knowledge of the sad death of John Burns. 

Prior to any further by-election taking place, Kate Stephens contacted us to formally resign from the community council which meant that membership now consisted of John MacColl, Ed Pybus and Catriona Renfrew.  The remaining 5 vacancies were included in a further by-election on 6^th February 2025 when candidates John Butcher, Nicola Sowerby Greenall, Robin Webster and Victoria Wince were elected.  The inaugural meeting took place on the date of the election so that the community council could be formally established, and able to conduct business, at the earliest opportunity.

The current 4-year term for all the community councils will end in 2026.