WIREDGOV

More people are being encouraged to stand in community council elections to help improve their local areas.

A pilot scheme involving 13 community councils in Moray will raise community councils' profile, validate their role in local decision making and show that community councils are democratic.

Each community council has received £500 to promote becoming a community councillor, ahead of elections in October.

Announcing the scheme, Finance Secretary John Swinney said:

"Community councils have an important role in representing views and developing local initiatives to benefit communities. Yet many community council elections in Scotland go uncontested.

"We are working with COSLA and the Association of Scottish Community Councils to put in place a range of measures to enhance the role of community councils.

"This pilot will raise the profile of community councils in Moray and will, I hope, encourage more people to stand for election. As a result, I want contested elections to become the norm for community councils, reinforcing their potential to act as a democratic voice for the communities that they represent."

There are 1,164 active community councils in Scotland. The 13 taking part in Moray are:

• Buckie Community Council
• Burghead and Cummingston Community Council
• Cullen and Deskford Community Council
• Dyke Landward Community Council
• Elgin Community Council
• Findhorn and Kinloss Community Council
• Findochty Community Council
• Forres Community Council
• Heldon Community Council
• Keith Community Council
• Lennox Community Council
• Lossiemouth Community Council
• Strathisla Community Council