Nominations open for interim community council elections

Nomination papers are now available for those who would like to stand for the community councils at Cullen and Deskford, Portknockie and Dufftown and District.

Interim elections are being held for all three community councils following a request to Moray Council to fill vacancies which have arisen.

The councils formed following the last regular community council elections in October 2013 but have since seen a number of members resign or leave the area.

Under the rules an interim election is required when the point is reached where one-third of a council’s members are co-opted but vacancies still remain.

For Cullen and Deskford, six seats are available out of a total membership of nine. At Portknockie, half of the 10 seats are available and for Dufftown and District six seats are available from 10.

Candidates have until 4pm on Wednesday, July 22 to lodge nomination papers with the election office at Moray Council.

In the event of there being more candidates than seats available, an election will be held by postal ballot during August.

Nomination papers can be downloaded from the Moray Council website at www.moray.gov.uk/elections, by calling 01343 563334 or by e-mailing election.enquiries@moray.gov.uk

Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west. The council and its 4,500 employees respond to the needs of 92,500 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.

Headquartered in  Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.