Community councils

Find your local community council

This page contains general information on Community Councils, specific information for Community Councillors can be found here.

What are Community Councils?

Community Councils are made up of local people from age 16 onwards, who are elected to support their local community through consultation. This means that a Community Council are both a consultor and a consultee. They are consulted by law on issues that are important to communities and citizens and are also requested to consult with their communities on issues important to them.

Many Community Councils may be involved in local projects and also administer funding for their community, for example from windfarms. All Community Council meetings are open to the public and residents are encouraged to attend and support their local Community Council.

Community Councils are voluntary bodies which exist within a legal framework and have been granted legislative rights of consultation.
The general purpose of a Community Council is to find out the wider views of the community within its agreed boundaries. Although they are elected bodies, Community Councils do not have the status of local authorities nor are they part of local authorities. Community Councils are a separate legal entity with their own rights and responsibilities.
Community Councils are included in the consultation process for all planning applications. They have the right to receive notification of applications and will be recognised as competent bodies to make representations regarding applications.
Community Councils are also statutory consultees in terms of section 21 of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and are consulted on the development of the Licensing Policy Statement and any supplementary Licensing Policy Statement.
It is the responsibility of a Community Council to follow the Amended Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils in Dumfries and Galloway.
Community Councils have a great deal of scope to get involved in a variety of local issues and promote partnership working at local level with other groups.

How to get involved

There are different ways to get involved in your local community council:

attend your Community Council's regular public meetings (these may be held online due to current restrictions)
email your local community council or visit their website
become a Community Council member

All Community Council meetings are open to the public, and residents are encouraged to attend their local Community Council. Contact details for your Community Council can be found here.

Hosting/Attending Online

The following are some useful resources on how to host and attend meetings online, using either Zoom or Microsoft Teams;

For the most up to date information including guidance, examples of local good practice and funding sources, please find the latest Community Council Newsletter below:

Elections

Castle Kennedy

Cree Valley

Notice of CVE [DOCX - 46KB]

Gretna and Rigg

Isle of Whithorn

Notice of CVE [DOCX - 38KB]

Royal Burgh Lochmaben

What If My Area Doesn't Have a Current Community Council?

The list of areas where Community Councils are NOT established across Dumfries and Galloway can be found under 'Find your local Community Council' at the top of this page.

Where a Community Council does NOT exist and where there is interest by members of the community to be involved in establishing a Community Council for that area, a By-Election can take place.

To establish a Community Council you are required to submit a written application of at least 20 electors who are:

16 years of age or over;
Reside within the Community Council area;
Are on the current Register of Electors for that Community Council area.

Please submit as follows :

By email to: community.councils@dumgal.gov.uk

By post to: Dumfries and Galloway Council, Community Planning and Engagement Unit, Municipal Chambers, Buccleuch Street, Dumfries DG1 2AD

Further information

Contact: community.councils@dumgal.gov.uk

Contact us

Page last updated: 26/05/2023

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