 Notice of Community Council Ordinary Elections 2024
Our council supports Community Councils in several ways including the organisation and administration of Community Council Ordinary Elections.
Community Council Ordinary Elections are held every five years in the month October. Ordinary Elections for the return of all Community Councils across Dumfries and Galloway are scheduled to take place on Thursday, 3 October 2024.
The Nomination Period will open on Tuesday, 2 July and close at 5pm on Tuesday, 3 September.
In line with previous practice, our council will work with Community Councils to appoint Returning Officers who are not a current member of the Community Council nor intend to stand for election to the Community Council and we will make the necessary arrangements for the first meetings of all new Community Councils to take place within two calendar months of the date of the election.
Also, in line with previous practice, should a UK General Election fall on the same date as the Community Council Ordinary Elections, the UK General Election would take precedence, so we would therefore have to set a new date of Poll for the Community Council Ordinary Elections. The nomination period would however remain the same.
For further information please email us at: Community.Councils@dumgal.gov.uk
50 Years of Community Councils
Recently published information on new resources for Community Councils and local authorities including a good practice guide are now available online and in easy read format.
Casual Vacancy Election Update
Under the terms of the Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils in Dumfries and Galloway, a Casual Vacancy Election is a method whereby Community Councils can fill vacancies between Ordinary Elections, without disruption to Community Council business. Community Councillors elected as a result of this process will form part of the quorum.
Training Sessions
Dumfries and Galloway Council provides training sessions for all Community Councillors with the governance document, The Amended Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils in Dumfries and Galloway being the chief focus of the training. Contact the Community Council Mailbox to arrange a training session Community.Councils@dumgal.gov.uk
RBLS War Memorial Competition
Royal British Legion Scotland Best Kept War Memorial Competition 2024. On behalf of Legion Scotland, we are pleased to share with you the relevant documents should you wish to submit an entry to the competition.
The key dates are as follows:
- Completed entry deadline – 26 April 2024
- Area Judging – 10 May to 12 July 2024
- National Judging – 19 July to 16 August 2024
- Trophy Presentation at New Haig House, Edinburgh – 6 September 2024
You will note under the Best Kept War Memorial Rules and Regulations that completed entry forms should be submitted to the Legion Scotland Area Secretary: areasecgadg@legionscotland.org.uk and to Head Office: BKWM@legionscotland.org.uk
Further information can also be found at Best Kept War Memorial Competition 2024 – Royal British Legion Scotland. Should you have any queries please email bkwm@legionscotland.org.uk or call William Millar on 0131 550 1583.
Kerbside Battery Recycling
Dumfries and Galloway Council was successful in securing £70,000 of funding from Scottish Government’s Recycling Improvement Fund to implement a kerbside battery recycling service.
New pink bags for recycling household batteries at the kerbside have been delivered to households over the last few weeks. The enthusiasm for the scheme has been fantastic, and the council's Waste Team is working hard to prepare the roll out of this new service. Collections will begin in the coming weeks and the start date will be shared as soon as possible.
You’ll be able to recycle full, partially used, rechargeable and normal type batteries including AA, AAA, C, D, 6V, 9V, mobile phone, laptop, and button batteries soon.
 Disposal of Upholstered Furniture
Due to changes in the law, Dumfries and Galloway Council has had to change the way upholstered seating is accepted. This includes any seating items with cushions or padding – such as sofas, sofa beds, armchairs, kitchen and dining room chairs, stool and footstools, office chairs, bean bags and floor cushions, and futons.
If you are bringing upholstered seating to a household waste recycling centre (HWRC) for disposal then please look for the upholstered seating container.
Any exposed foam or padding must be covered with plastic or tape and sealed. If you are unsure or have any queries, please check with a member of staff on site.
TSDG Free Funding Roadshow in Stranraer
Tuesday 14 May Stranraer Millenium Centre
TSDG contact stephen.mccutcheon@tsdg.org.uk
To book a slot with funding providers go to
Funding Roadshow Tickets, Tue 14 May 2024 at 10:30 | Eventbrite
 Multiply – Reminder of New Service
FREE, user-friendly help with maths is available in Dumfries and Galloway.
Did you know that half the working-age population in the UK have primary-school level maths skills? If this sounds like you, read on….
A new, free programme of maths tuition and support for adults (19+) is now available in Dumfries and Galloway. Help will be available by accessing tailored one-to-one support, learn how to include maths in your kid’s or grandkid’s play or get help managing your money and coping with debt. For more information, to register an interest and to have somebody contact you to chat about this, simply e-mail Multiply@dumgal.gov.uk
Local Development Plan 3
Work on preparing the next Local Development Plan for Dumfries and Galloway – LDP3 has started. The first stage of the new plan is the production of an evidence report. To help inform the report, the Development Planning Team will be asking people what they think at a series of events in towns and villages during May and June.
Locations for these engagement sessions are based on the map inset in the current Local Development Plan – LDP2.
The council is keen to understand what people think about play provision in their local community including the quality, quantity and how easy it is to access. The council will also providing information on the next Local Development Plan and the issues that are considered in its preparation.
The engagement is taking the form of a roadshow. On the link below, you will find planned locations with the date and time.
Please download the poster for use in your community to encourage people to one of these roadshows.
Place Plans Update
The recently published Development Plan Scheme DPS-2024.pdf (dumgal.gov.uk) sets out the various stages in preparing the Local Development Plan 3, along with a timetable for each stage. Local Place Plans are an important part of the plan preparation process with the council required to take them into account when preparing the Local Development Plan. To ensure that happens, a Local Place Plan will need to have been registered or be able to be registered by July 2025.
If you have any questions about Local Place Plans please have a look at the council’s webpage Local Place Plans - Dumfries and Galloway Council (dumgal.gov.uk) or send an email to communityempowerment@dumgal.gov.uk
Supporting our Communities
Anti-Poverty
Anti-Poverty – we're working with our partners to tackle poverty in the region and support our priority of protecting the most vulnerable people. We have made a strong commitment to tackling poverty.
We want to:
- prevent people from falling into poverty
- support people who are currently in poverty
- provide assistance to people to help them get out of poverty
Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership
Equipment for You has been commissioned by Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership. It’s a self-help website that offers free impartial advice about equipment that could help make daily living easier – maximising independence.
People can use it themselves (or with the support of their carers/families) to access a list of equipment, specific to their needs, that they may wish to buy. It complements, but doesn’t replace, the existing free equipment loan services.
It can be accessed here: equipmentforyou.livingmadeeasy.org.uk
Village Halls Handbook
The recently published handbook is for everyone running a village or community hall in Scotland. From governance and facilities management to net zero and digital, we'll guide you through what you need to know.
Village halls are often the heart of a community. They are places for people to gather, learn, access services and have fun. Making sure they are well run and maintained is an important but not always easy role, often fulfilled by committed volunteers and workers.
Village and community halls handbook - SCVO
Community Resilience
Community resilience - SupportDG - Dumfries and Galloway Council
Starting a new Community Council resilience team
We have Community Council resilience teams throughout the region but there are still some Community Council areas without one. To help you establish a resilience team, we have introduced a quick-start process with a template, guidance and the all-important insurance cover.
Community Resilience Template 2021 (Word doc) [2MB] (opens new window)
Key Insurance Information template (Word doc) [173KB] (opens new window)
GDPR Advice - Supporting Vulnerable Residents and Information Storage (PDF) [162KB] (opens new window)
Support is available by contacting your local Ward Officer
For additional information on creating a plan visit Ready Scotland
Completed forms should be returned to SupportDG@dumgal.gov.uk
 Trunk Road Works
A free roadwork alert service is available. Sign up using the button below.
 1 Stonykirk Community Council Rewilding Project find more at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNW_n7dGm_c
2 Taking advantage of free training sessions has helped members of Tongland and Ringford, Ae and Stonykirk Community Councils increase their awareness of the role, responsibilities and procedures Community Councils follow in supporting their local community. Contact the mailbox, Community.Councils@dumgal.gov.uk if you would like your Community Council to host a training session delivered by officers from Dumfries and Galloway Council.
3 Kirkmaiden Community Council providing support in the community. Find out more: Kirkmaiden Community Council | Facebook
Dumfries and Galloway Council welcomes your feedback and holds public consultations and information days so that you can take part in decisions that affect you. For more information, visit: www.dumgal.gov.uk/consultations
Scottish Government Advice on Engagement For useful advice and ideas go to:
Community Engagement | Community Council (communitycouncils.scot)
 Windfarm Update
Contact James Parker at James.Parker@dumgal.gov.uk
Application deadlines to be aware of:
- ANCBC main fund – 2 August (Annandale & Nithsdale)
- Clyde Windfarm – 5 July (North-East of Region)
- Kilgallioch Fund – 10 June (West of region)
- Ewe Hill Fund – 31 July (Annandale & Eskdale)
- D&G Regionwide Community Fund – 22 April (Regionwide)
 Planning and Licencing Update
www.dumgal.gov.uk/planning
Scottish Government Planning Consultations
Scottish Government have launched three consultations that continue our planning reform journey and aim to strengthen our planning system:
Investing in Planning
Investing in Planning – a consultation on resourcing Scotland’s planning system responds to current resourcing challenges. It builds on ideas generated in a stakeholder workshop held in November, and sets out a series of proposals which aim to improve capacity and build resilience particularly within planning authorities.
Views are invited by 31 May.
Masterplan Consent Areas
The Planning (Scotland) Act 2019 introduced MCAs – which will enable planning authorities to take a place leadership role, by proactively consenting the type and quality of development they wish to see in their areas.
The Masterplan consent area regulations: consultation covers the type of development which can be authorised, potential locations for MCAs and the procedures for making a scheme. It includes two sets of regulations: covering the main process for making MCA schemes and relating to EIA of MCA schemes. The separate consultation on ‘Investing in Planning’ also includes proposals for recouping costs of preparing MCA schemes. Views are invited by 22 May.
NPF and LDP Amendments
With the move to National Planning Framework (NPF) and Local Development Plans (LDPs) having a review period of 10 years, the 2019 Act introduced the provision for them to be amended between full review cycles. This enables the planning system to respond where newly emerging matters arise. The development plan amendment regulations: consultation covers proposals for the regulations. We look forward to hearing your views on these consultations and we will provide further updates after the consultation period closes on 22 May and following analysis of responses.
Compulsory Purchase Reform
We have committed to reform and modernise compulsory purchase legislation. As a first step, we have established an advisory group to help support the reform programme. The group, to be co-chaired by the Chief Planner and Roseanna Cunningham, brings together a number of expert practitioners with first-hand experience of the compulsory purchase process. See Transforming Planning for more information. We recognise, however, that a range of organisations have an interest in this area. We will be consulting broadly, therefore, and are keen to hear from a wide range of voices as the work moves forward. Please get in touch with us at CPO.Reform@gov.scot.
Follow Scottish Government Planning and Architecture Division
Online application service: eDevelopment.scot
Licensing – Short Term Lets
The Scottish Government has introduced Short Term Lets Licensing under legislation approved by the Scottish Parliament in January 2021. For a March 2024 update go to: Short-term let licences – mygov.scot
 86 Community Councils are now established across the 12 Wards within Dumfries and Galloway. Each Community Council has a dedicated webpage at: www.dumgal.gov.uk/communitycouncils
Please ensure your Community Council details are up to date and notify us of any changes at the Community Council Mailbox: Community.Councils@dumgal.gov.uk
General Data Protection Regulations Scheme Section 2.5.9
Information Commissioner’s Office – has your Community Council registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) yet? Signed up for the free newsletter? Need more information on this? Visit the Information Commissioners Office now.
Ward officers can provide support with community engagement, community empowerment, community development and community planning.
Youth Council
Why not take the opportunity to invite your Youth Councillors along to your Community Council meeting to find out how you can work in partnership. Click on the link below and make that connection with your Youth Councillors.
National Support
Scottish Community Council Newsletter – Access the free subscription newsletter from the Scottish Government Improvement service. Packed with information, news and funding opportunities Scottish Community Councils website: Scottishccs@improvementservice.org.uk
The Scottish Government Community Council website is for anyone interested in community councils. The site has up to date information on news, events, guidance and grants as well as advice on how to be a Community Councillor. Check out the help and support section: www.communitycouncils.scot
Local Support
The Dumfries and Galloway Council Community Council mailbox is administered by council staff. Send in your Agendas and Minutes to comply with the scheme – Role of Secretary, section 6.5 or just get in touch with us and we will ensure a prompt response Community.Councils@dumgal.gov.uk
CCESCommunities@dumgal.gov.uk A Dumfries and Galloway Council operated enquiry service. Send your request to the CCES mailbox in connection with any council delivered service.
Report it www.dumgal.gov.uk/reportit
Click on Report it and view the options available which includes reporting potholes, missed bins collection and many more.
Police Scotland
Police Scotland Community Policing Team are available to attend any events or meetings which are taking place across the Division that could provide reassurance and support to local communities and partners. Contact the relevant area at
NithsdaleCPT@Scotland.police.uk
AnnandaleandEskdaleCPT@Scotland.police.uk
StewartryCPT@Scotland.police.uk
WigtownCPT@Scotland.police.uk
Online Platforms
Many Community Councils have Facebook pages and X (formerly Twitter) accounts to keep their communities informed and involved. Dumfries and Galloway Council also has Facebook and X pages that are updated regularly with news, information and contact details.
Funding Support
www.tsdg.org.uk sign up for a free, information packed Third Sector Dumfries and Galloway weekly funding newsletter, attend free workshops and request support from dedicated TSDG officers who support the Third sector in your area.
www.dumgal.gov.uk/funding Our council also has a range of funding available from our area committees’ discretionary fund, tackling poverty and inequalities fund and other funding streams.
www.communitycouncils.scot For national funding available, contact the Scottish Community Council website.
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