Angus Community Councils
Background
Community Councils were introduced in 1975 when local government was reformed and the former, smaller town councils, were abolished. The objective was to ensure there could be input from the "grassroots" to the then new two-tier structure of Regional and District Councils.
The Local Government etc. (Scotland) Act 1994 continued the role of the Community Councils in the new single-tier organisations.
In June 1999, the McIntosh report, dealing with the relationship between the new Parliament and local government, recommended that the system of community councils should be retained, taking into account the requirement for local Councils to draw up decentralisation plans under the Local Government etc (Scotland) Act 1994.
Purpose
The purpose of community councils is to ascertain, co-ordinate and express the views of the community it represents to local authorities and other pubic bodies.
Specific arrangements are made the by Council for consultation on planning applications. This includes community councils appointing one person as their point of contact for all planning matters. Also, as part of the consultation arrangements, all community councils are sent a weekly list of all planning applications.
- View Angus Council's Planning Applications online.
- See Development Control A-Z entry to find out more about the process of handling and deciding planning applications.
There are 26 community councils in Angus, all of which are currently operational. You can download contact information (10 KB MS Word) for each of the commmunity councils.
The postcode search or the map below, will provide further information on each community council such as membership, meetings and contact details.
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Scheme for Establishment of Community Councils
All local authorities are responsible for setting up what is known as a Community Council Scheme (85 KB PDF or 620 KB MS Word/RTF). This Scheme provides the framework for the operation of community councils and also includes model constitutions and standing orders.
Policy Statement on the Council's Relationship with Angus Community Councils
In order to strengthen the Council's relationship with Angus Community Councils a Policy Statement on the Council's Relationship with Angus Community Councils (14 KB PDF) was agreed in October 2003. This provides a code of practice between Angus Council and the Angus Community Councils and outlines how the partnership will be developed.
Good Practice Agreement with Community Councils
As part of its Best Value development, Angus Council has carried out a review of corporate communications with community councils. One of the recommendations in the improvement plan stemming from that review was to develop a Good Practice Agreement (148 KB PDF) with community councils.
Bi-annual Meetings
Angus Council, as part of its commitment to improve communications with community councils, agreed to hold Bi-annual meetings with Angus Councillors and Community Councillors. These meetings are usually held in June and December of each year.
Also, in 1999, the Council, introduced a general system of marking long service by community councillors. A scroll and quaich are presented to those community councillors who have completed over 20 years continuous service and this usually takes place at the Bi-annual meetings.
A copy of the Minutes of the previous meeting - 10 June 2009 (30 KB PDF) are available.
Community Council Grants
All community councils receive, in October of each year, an annual administration grant from Angus Council. The amount of the grant is based on the population of the community council area. Further details of the grant allocation (9 KB PDF) and information about the composition and ratio to population for each community councils are available.
Information Booklet for Community Councillors (PDF 350 KB)
This handbook has been developed to provide all Angus community councillors with some of the essential background and operational information that they need to operate as effectively as is possible, with agreed rights and responsibilities. The booklet summarises the most relevant points for community councillors included in the Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils, Policy Statements and the Good Practice Agreement.
For further information on community councils, see the A-Z Entry on Community Councils.
For further information contact:
Senior Community Planning Officer
Angus House
Orchardbank Business Park
Forfar DD8 1AX
Tel: 01307 476109
Fax: (01307) 473783
Out of hours telephone: 08452 777 778
Last Updated on the 19/03/2003
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