ariel Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 There are almost fifty vacant places on Shetland's community councils since the last elections. Are folk happy to moan but not to get off their butts and serve?http://www.shetland.gov.uk/elections/Elections2011.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghostrider Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 ....and serving on a Community Council has the potential to achive, what exactly? Maybe somewhere like Lerwick its worth a shot, but elsewhere in Shetland I'm less than convinced of their value. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest posiedon Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 I wasn't even going to bother replying to this OP but..........^Quite^Ghostrider Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ariel Posted January 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 What they achieve is down to how much effort members put in. More to the point, it's the lowest rung of democracy and you have to start somewhere. Apart from the actual business they do, their value is in getting folk to take on responsibility, work together, argue their case coherently (and publicly), stand up to be counted. They're valuable for the same reason any community committees are - they give a structure to do things and to consult and they give people access to folk living closely in the community who they can lobby or ask for help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skunnered Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 ^^So no parallel with being a Councillor, then! (Apologies for sarcasm) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Para Handy Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 There are some of our community councils that are a lot betterthan our main councillors so lets fire the town hall lot and trysomething new Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shetlandpeat Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 The are a perfect start if you want to get into politics, no matter how many reforms the GOV inflict, the ground roots are generally the same. It gets you involved in your community, instead of sitting on a swivel chair on a fence bleating with the most favourable wind. You also get to go to various functions, and, as other posts here have said, if you work hard at it, and actually do something, you get your name remembered and can get a chance for the next step.Parish or local councils are only as bad as the folk who are in it.To say they have no bearing is wrong, they achieve small things, they give a voice to folk, they are the ones who are able to visit folk and see how the world is treating them.The fact that there are so many vacancies shows up the lack of public and community spirit in this life. Tis a shame, was such a friendly place, folk looking out for eachother, and now the excuse of a few bad apples have poisoned the community against its self it seems. Folk always seem to moan, not do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Njugle Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 ....and serving on a Community Council has the potential to achive, what exactly? At least much as posting on an anonymous internet forum, generally more I'd imagine. Perhaps not the melodrama that take place in the council chamber, but more direct benefit to a local area. The significant difference between Shetlink and a community council being that community councils are known to be targeted by every government and non-government organisation, quango and the like as an outlet for their information. Knowledge is useful, speculation is a hobby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuckleJoannie Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Just to amplify Njugle's post the SIC and NHS have met Community Councils before many of their recent consultations go to public meetings. Also they have opportunities to comment on national consultations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whittleseyite Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 Its worth remembering: Community Councillors are volunteersThey do not get paid and rarely claim expensesThey are strictly non-politicalThey have to follow the same ethical code as local authority councillorsThere are nearest to the electorate in the democratic system Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Staney Dale Posted January 22, 2011 Report Share Posted January 22, 2011 'rarely claim expenses'?? I'm interested in this 'rarely' which suggests that there is the possiblilty of claiming expenses. I was a community councillor for some time and was never told of this remote possibility. If I had, I'd have had my snout well into the trough and may in fact not have stepped down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuckleJoannie Posted January 23, 2011 Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 I think the main expenses available are for mileage travelling to meetings. Hardly a gold mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ariel Posted January 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Fine to read some positive views on standing for election - special thanks to Poseidon, the torpid inanity of whose post spurred folk to reply. Just to say - want to stand? Get your form in by 4pm on 1st Feb (that's next Tuesday). You have to be on the voter's roll for the ward you want to stand in and get a couple of folk also on the roll to nominate you. Call the councils's electoral dept for papers but remember Up Helly Aa, weekend etc - get 'em back in the post quick. Good luck. http://www.shetland.gov.uk/elections/Elections2011.aspTelephone: 01595 744554e-mail: returning.officer@shetland.gov.uk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest posiedon Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 arielspecial thanks to Poseidon, the torpid inanity of whose post spurred folk to reply. Thanks for the (undue) credit but I was merely agreeing with what ghostrider said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustMe Posted January 27, 2011 Report Share Posted January 27, 2011 One thing that would help to increase interest in Community Councils is for their minutes to be more widely published. For example the only place I know I can read the Lerwick minutes is outside the office on South Commercial Street.......not good when a cold wind is blowing. Be good if they were available on-line. Not just Lerwick but all of them. Maybe the SIC would donate the web space and if not there are always blogs and facebook pages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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