COUNCILLORS are set to consider a motion asking for Argyll and Bute Council’s four area committees to meet six times a year.
The committees for each administrative area of Argyll and Bute currently meet every three months of the calendar year.
But a motion by Councillor Jennifer Kean (Independent, South Kintyre), seconded by Councillor Tommy MacPherson (Independent, South Kintyre), requests that the cycle is considered to be changed to every two months.
The motion will be put to the council’s Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands area committee at its meeting on Wednesday, March 4.
If the committee agrees, a request would be made to the full council to bring forward an amendment to the constitution for approval.
The motion, published with the agenda for the meeting, said: “It is clear that the communities of Argyll and Bute are seeking stronger and more effective representation at a local level.
“We need to bring the power back to area committees and thereby to the communities we were elected to serve. Increasing the frequency of area committee meetings would represent a practical and measurable step toward strengthening local decision-making and community engagement.”
The motion then asked that the committee: “Recognises the importance of regular and responsive local governance through area committees.
“Recognises the need for timely decision-making and consistent engagement with residents and stakeholders.
“Requests that full council bring forward and approve the necessary amendment to the council constitution to provide for area committees to meet on a bi-monthly basis (every two months) throughout the calendar year, in place of the current quarterly meeting cycle.
“Proposes that, subject to approval of the constitutional amendment by the council, meetings of area committees would take place in February, April, June, August, October and December each year.
“Further requests that any associated constitutional and procedural amendments required to implement this change be presented to council for approval at the earliest opportunity.”
