What are the aims of a community council?
To bridge the gap between the local authority [Moray Council] and community, helping to make public bodies aware of the opinions and needs of the communities they represent and influence decisions in planning, provision of local services and policies.
They also:
• Carry out projects to enhance their community for all types of residents – elderly, single mothers, minority groups, youths etc.
• Issue community newsletters
• Conduct local surveys
• Campaign on local issues
• Organise community events (such as local galas)
• Represent the community on various bodies and groups.
How does CDCC operate. It works through the:
Community Council Framework This is the governing framework and guidelines for community councils. They are statutory bodies with a role within the governance model for Scotland.
Community Councils should:
• Represent all people in the area without prejudice. Therefore they should:
• Be non-party political and non-sectarian.
• Represent a full cross-section of the community and encourage the involvement of people regardless of gender, race, age, disability, nationality or sexual orientation.
• across the country.
• Community Councils are the interface with the local authority [Moray Council]
• They must ascertain and express the views of the community to local authorities and other public bodies, and to take action which appears to be in the interests of its community.
• They should have a positive working partnership with the local authority
• To effectively represent their community they must be proactive in Community Councils and act as a voice for their local area.
• Their specific role can vary according to their local area’s needs. Their size, in terms of area and population, and their levels of community engagement.
• What they are not is community leaders determining what the community needs, they are representatives of the community and take forward the community’s views through consultation and engagement.
• Community Councils should cooperate with the various community organisations in their area:
• The role of the community council is to act as representatives for their area with the local authority, so its important that it extends an open hand to the various groups that operate in their locality.
The aim is to improve the lives of the residents in Cullen and Deskford.