The process of forming a community council in an area that does not have one begins by a local person asking for a petition - you can get the petition form to start the process from the Community Council Resource Centre, simply email a request by using this link - ccrc@glasgow.gov.uk or phone the Resource Centre on 287-4723.
Once the petition is signed by twenty local people who are on the electoral register, it can be submitted to the City Council, requesting that a community council is established in the named area.
Those signing the petition are not committing themselves to become Community Councillors – however petitioners are committing themselves to form a steering committee to draw up a constitution to govern the affairs of the proposed community council. This part of the process may take several meetings to successfully draw a set of rules to govern the community council’s activities.
Glasgow City Council will provide funding to facilitate the steering committee phase, such as allow for a venue to be booked, and pay for any administrative costs.
Once a draft constitution is in place, it is adopted at a public meeting. The steering committee is then dissolved, having fulfilled its purpose. The City Council will then handle the election phase, issuing a call for nominations, and making arrangements to hold an election meeting.
Below is a timeline of the initial process to form a community council.
1) Request for a petition by a local resident.
2) Completed petition (signed by 20 local people who are on the electoral register) is returned to the Community Councils’ Resource Centre.
3) Call petitioners to the inaugural meeting to form a steering committee.
4) Inaugural meeting
· Provide funds for operation of
steering committee;
· Consider constitution;
· Elect interim office bearers for the
period of the steering committee’s
operation.
5) Subsequent steering committee meeting(s)
· constitution (if required)
6) Public Meeting
· Advertised meeting to formally
adopt constitution
· Constitution submitted to city
council for approval
· Community Councils’ Resource
Centre (CCRC) set date for
election meeting
· Set arrangements for nominations
7) Election arrangements
· CCRC arrange issue of nomination
forms
· CCRC arrange posters for
nominations
· Glasgow City Council officer acts
returning officer
· Publicity process arranged by city
council
8) Election Meeting
· Contested election by ballot, if
nominations exceed places
available
· Declaration of election results
9) Initial meeting of new community council, organised by CCRC
· Office bearers elected
· Copy of constitution available to
all members
· Standing orders approved
· Set dates of future meetings
· Consider any need for sub
committees