Advance notice: nominations to stand as a Community Councillor due by 14 Sep 09

The procedure for the elections (if required) to Community Councils in Edinburgh (including Marchmont & Sciennes) has been published:

• Before 31 Aug: Nomination packs (including a copy of the electoral register) will be issued to the Returning Officer (Councillor Steve Burgess)

• Start of Nomination Period – 31 Aug: nomination forms for elected members will be available from  Steve Burgess on request. He will check names and addresses of nominees, proposers and seconders against electoral register and check forms have been correctly signed and completed.  Some young people under 16 3/4 may not appear on the electoral register.  In these circumstances identification can be confirmed by other means such as school registration, passport, youth passport or letter from parents.  The returning officer will also distribute registration forms for Local Interest Groups on request. 

• Close of Nomination Period – 14 Sep: The returning officer will give details of elected representatives to the Community Council Liaison Officer and inform the Chair/Secretary of CC of outcome.  He will arrange the convening of the AGM with previous CC office-bearers. 

• If the number of elected nominees exceeds the places on the Community Council then a poll is required. The Council will make the necessary arrangements for the election. The Returning Officer will be required to attend the Count and declare the candidates with the greatest number of votes as elected members of the CC.

• If the number of nominated members exceeds the number of places for nominated members on the CC, the Returning Officer convenes a meeting of local interest groups to appoint the required number of nominated members.