Community councils

What are community councils?

Under the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 all Local Authorities are legally obliged to establish community councils. The are recognised groups of local people with an interest in their community.

The size of each community council varies, some are as small as five and others as large as 18 people.

Community councils in the Scottish Borders are governed by the Scottish Borders Scheme for Community Councils which you can find as a download to the right side of this page.

What do community councils do?

The main role of community councils is to represent their local area, to consult with local residents and pass their views on to public sector organisations such as Scottish Borders Council and NHS Borders.

Scottish Borders Council has a responsibility to consult with community councils about how local services are delivered and inform them of any changes to services or any issues that may affect their local area.

Councillors attend their local community council meetings, providing a good link between Scottish Borders Council and the community.

Each community council is a member of the Scottish Borders Community Councils' Network (SBCCN) which organises an annual conference, seminars to discuss areas of concern and training.