Review of Community Council Scheme of Establishment, Phase Two Consultation

1. Introduction

Shetland Islands Council is currently reviewing its Community Council Scheme of Establishment.   Phase two of the process involves public consultation on the draft scheme.  A copy of the draft scheme, the proposed material changes and any other documents referenced in this survey can be viewed on the Council's website at www.shetland.gov.uk/ccschemereview.    

 

The following survey has been designed to invite feedback on the proposals, and to help with the process of identifying the most appropriate changes for the new Scheme of Establishment.  The survey will close at 5PM on Friday 28th June 2024.

 

All responses will be considered as part of the consultation and may be included in full, or as a summary, in a report to the Shetland Islands Council.  Please take care not to include any personal information in your response.  Any information which is considered to be personal, or may identify an individual, will be removed from responses to ensure the Council's compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 2018.   

 

Please note, it is not necessary to comment on every option below, but we very much value any feedback, positive or negative you are willing to provide. 

 

1. Shetland Islands Council proposes to simplify funding to Community Councils by merging existing core funding and the Community Development Fund into one new grant scheme.  Please tell us what you think about this proposal, including whether you like or dislike it. 

 

2. Shetland Islands Council proposes the new funding scheme formula will be based on a fixed allocation for core costs per Community Council, with the remainder of funding linked to population levels.    Please tell us what you think about this proposal, including whether you like or dislike it. 

 

3. Shetland Islands Council proposes that any member of a Community Council that fails to attend any Community Council meeting throughout a period of 6 months may have their membership terminated by the Community Council.   At the discretion of Community Councils, a period of leave of absence for Community Council members may be granted at any meeting of the Community Council.  Please tell us what think about this proposal, including whether you like or dislike it. 

 

4. At present, Community Council membership numbers have little correlation to current population levels. Shetland Islands Council proposes to introduce population bands that will guide the minimum and maximum number of Community Councillors each Community Council will have. Please tell us what you think about this proposal, including whether you like or dislike it. 

 

5. The current Scheme does not have a set of Standing Orders, or similar document, that details how the Community Council business is to be arranged and conducted. To provide a guide for meetings and support the Chair in running meetings, Shetland Islands Council proposes to introduce Community Council Standing Orders. Please tell us what you think about this option, including whether you like or dislike it. 

 

6. The existing Code of Conduct lacks detail in certain aspects and is in need of updating. Shetland Islands Council proposes to update the Community Council Code of Conduct.  Please tell us what you think about this option, including whether you like or dislike it. 

 

7. Shetland Islands Council proposes to introduce a new Youth Membership category for young people aged between 12-16 years of age.   Community Councils may appoint two youth members, on the basis that they will reside within the Community Council area.   Youth members would not have voting rights.  Please tell us what you think about this proposal, including whether you like or dislike it. 

 

8. At present it is possible for elected individuals to join their local Community Council as a full member with voting rights.   However this can lead to those elected individuals regularly experiencing conflicts of interest during Community Council meetings.   Shetland Islands Council proposes that any individual who is elected to serve on the Shetland Islands Council, or the Scottish or UK or Youth Parliaments shall be ineligible to stand for election or to be co-opted as a voting member of a Community Council, but will be an ex-officio member. Ex-officio members are those members of a Community Council by virtue of holding another public office. This means they will still be able to attend and participate in Community Council meetings but do not have voting rights. Please tell us what you think about this proposal, including whether you like or dislike it. 

 

9. It is good practice to periodically change the Chair of an organisation. Shetland Islands Council proposes that a Community Council Chair can serve a maximum of four consecutive years.  On serving as Chair for the maximum period, the individual in post must step down and cannot return to the same office for a minimum period of two years.   In exceptional circumstances, to be determined by the Community Council, the Chair may be considered to serve beyond the maximum period of four years.   Such exceptional circumstances would require a unanimous decision being passed by the Community Council voting members.   Please tell us what you think about this proposal, including whether you like or dislike it. 

 

10. Please use the space below to provide any other feedback you have on the draft scheme proposals. 

 

11. Please confirm your status from the list below: 

 

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey.