Elections for the Community Council



Download the nomination forms: Elected member nomination form (PDF format) Local Interest Group Nomination Form (PDF format) Local Interest Group Nomination Form (Word format)

See the Election Poster             See the Election Leaflet

Elections for the Southside Community Council (SCC) are to be held on 31 October 2019. The election will be administered by the City of Edinburgh Council. There can be up 12 elected members on the SCC, and an election will only be held if there are more than 12 nominees. There can also be up to six members nominated by local organisations.

Who can stand for election?

The minimum age to stand for election as a community councillor is 16 years. Qualification for elected membership is by residency within the community council area, see map. Elected representatives must also be named on the electoral register for the community council area in which they reside. Nominated representatives need not appear on the electoral register for the community council provided that they remain voluntary, active members of the nominating group. Some young people under the age of 16 ¾ may not appear on the electoral register so registering can be confirmed by other means such as school registration. Any individual who is elected to serve on the City of Edinburgh Council, or the Scottish, UK or European parliament is ineligible to stand for election to a community council.

Ethnic minority? If so we need you! See See this leaflet

Could your organisation be represented?

see below

Briefing Note

Below is the Briefing Note for Community Councillors giving more details of the election process.

Returning Officer

The City of Edinburgh Council will approve an independent Returning Officer for community council elections. The independent Returning Officer must not be a current elected or nominated member of the community council and once appointed shall be ineligible to stand for election to the community council. For Southside this will be Steve Burgess, one of our ward City Councillors. You can contact him at steve.burgess@edinburgh.gov.uk.

Nominations for Elected Representatives

Individuals seeking election to a community council should be nominated by a proposer and seconder, both of whom must be on the electoral register for the community council area. Each elector may propose one nominee and second one nominee. Nominations require to be submitted with the candidate's consent. Self-nomination is not permitted. A nomination form should be completed and submitted on the date set down in the election timetable. No forms submitted after that date will be accepted. See below for the timetable of events.

Election Process

At the end of the nomination period:

1. If the number of candidates is more than 5 but less 13, the candidates will be declared elected and no ballot will be held.

2. If the number of candidates exceeds the number of available places a ballot will take place. At the ballot, each voter shall be entitled to vote for candidates up to the number of vacancies for elected members on the community council, but cast no more than one vote for each candidate. For example if there are 26 candidates and 12 vacancies for elected members each voter can vote for up to 12 candidates but cast only one vote for each candidate.

3. If the number of candidates nominated is less than 6, no community council will be established at that time.

Local Organisations

Local organisations are also eligible to be represented on the Community Council. The SCC is allowed up to 6 nominated representatives.
Nominated representatives may be appointed by local interest groups registered with the City of Edinburgh Council. The organisation must be a voluntary group whose governing body has a majority of unpaid (volunteer) members, which does not distribute profit among its members, and which provides services for public benefit not restricted to its members.

Nomination Forms

Nomination forms, both for individuals and organisations, are now available. You can download them from this website (see top of page) or from the City Council website.






 

 

COMMUNITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS 2019 – BRIEFING NOTE FOR COMMUNITY COUNCILLORS

 

 

Background

 

This briefing note gives an outline of the process and rules by which councillors are elected to the City of Edinburgh’s Community Councils.  Community councillors are elected on a four-year cycle. Elections will next take place in September to October 2019.  Each election is managed by a separate independent returning officer – generally a local ward councillor.

 

Timetable for the Community Council Elections 2019

 

The timetable for the elections in 2019 is as follows:

 

Individual Community Councillors

 

The timetable for the election of individual community councillors is as follows:

 

 

Nominated Representatives

 

Community councils have both elected members and representatives from recognised local interest groups.   The timetable for the election of representatives of local interest groups is as follows:

 

 

Distribution of nomination forms and other materials

 

Individuals seeking election to a community council must be nominated by a proposer and seconder, both of whom must be on the electoral register for the community council area. Each elector may only propose one nominee and second one nominee. Nominations require to be submitted with the candidate's consent. Self-nomination is not permitted.  Individuals who wish to be nominated as elected members are sent the following by the Returning Officer or can obtain them from the Council website:

 

(i)         Nomination form for Elected Member;

(ii)        Copy of publicity leaflet; and

(iii)       Copy of the City of Edinburgh Scheme for Community Councils. (Also available online www.edinburgh.gov.uk/communitycouncils)

 

Local interest groups, who wish to put someone forward as a nominated member must be registered with the Council.  They will be  sent the following by the Returning Officer:

 

(i)         Nomination/Registration form for Local Interest Groups;

(ii)        Copy of publicity leaflet; and

(iii)       Copy of the Scheme for Community Councils; which contains Procedure for the Appointment of Community Council Nominated Members. (Also available online www.edinburgh.gov.uk/communitycouncils)

 

Close of nomination period -  30 September 2019

 

Nominations will close on 30 September 2019 at 4pm.   Nomination forms submitted to the Returning Officer will then be checked to ensure that nominees, proposers and seconders are all registered electors for the relevant community council area.   The Returning Officer will count the number of validly completed nomination forms.

 

At this point there can be three outcomes:

 

  1. Uncontested election - if the number of nominees is equal to or more than half the number of permitted members but does not exceed the maximum number of permitted members the candidates will be declared duly elected and no poll will need to be held.
  2. Contested election - if the number of nominees is more than the maximum number of permitted members then a poll is required.  Where an election is contested it will be conducted by secret ballot of local electors, organised by the Returning Officer in accordance with the Scottish Local Election Rules but subject to modification.  Voting in a contested election will be a combination of e-voting and postal voting.  Polling day would be 31 October 2019.
  3. Unsuccessful elections - If the number of nominees is less than half number of permitted members no community council will be established.

 

Local interest group - nominated members

 

Registration forms for local interest groups should be returned to the Council’s Elections Team who will ensure that qualifying organisations are appropriately registered by the close of nominations (30 September 2019).  The Elections Team will inform the Returning Officer of the number of valid application forms received. Where the number of nominations does not exceed the maximum number of nominated members those nominees will be declared duly elected.

 

Should the number of nominees registered exceed the maximum number of nominated members, the Returning Officer will convene a meeting of representatives from all registered local interest groups and the elected members of the community council. Participants at this meeting will vote by ballot to determine which local interest groups will become members.

 

Promotion of the 2019 community council elections

The Council will take the lead on the promotion of the elections.  It is not the role of individual community councils to prepare their own leaflets or spend their funds on publicity about the election. This does not  however preclude the use of the community council’s newsletters or social media accounts to raise awareness of the election.

Information about the elections will appear on plasma screens in libraries and Council offices.  Posters, leaflets and flyers will be available to the public in libraries, community centres, Council offices and GP surgeries.  This information will also be distributed to Registered Tenants Organisations, Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations Council, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and a range of voluntary groups.

Online promotion will include information on the Council website and through social media, with media releases issued at the beginning, middle and end of the nomination period.

The Council will produce a pack of materials that community councils can use to promote the election in their local area. This will include the posters and leaflets.

Further promotional opportunities are being explored by the Local Community Planning Team and the Council’s Communication Service.

 

Questions or advice

 

If you have any questions about the election process please contact the Elections Team

Email: elections@edinburgh.gov.uk

 

Tel: 0131 469 3126

Or

community.councils@edinburgh.gov.uk  

           

Regards

 

Ross

 

Ross A Murray  | Governance Officer | Strategy & Communications Division | Chief Executive | City of Edinburgh Council | Business Centre 2.1  |  4 East Market Street, Edinburgh | Tel  0131 469 3870 | email Ross.murray@edinburgh.gov.uk