Community councils
Community Council documents
- Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils in Midlothian (2025)
- Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils in Midlothian (2025) Handbook
- Community Council Code of Conduct (PDF)
- Election of Community Councillors nomination form (Doc)
- Boundary maps for each Community Council
- Road classifications by Community Council area (PDF)
- Roads we maintain
- Model Community Council documents on the communitycouncil.scot website.
Members
Office Bearers are appointed for 1 to 3 years.
The number of members on a Community Council is determined by the size of the population. The minimum is 3 members and maximum is 20 members.
In order to stand for election and to vote at Community Council elections you must:
- be at least 16 years of age
- be included on the electoral roll within the Community Council area,
- be resident within the Community Council area, and
- not be an elected member of Midlothian Council, the Scottish Parliament, or the UK Parliament.
You cannot be a member or remain a member of a Community Council if:
- You are the subject of bankruptcy proceedings
- during the five years prior to the date of nomination have been sentenced to a custodial sentence longer than three months.
- If you are no longer resident within the the area covered by the Community Council.
Constitutions
Each Community Council should adopt its own Constitution. The Constitution should not conflict with the Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils in Midlothian (2025) and it is subject to the approval of Midlothian Council. Model Standing Orders are included in the Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils in Midlothian (2025)
Funding
Community Councils can apply for an annual administration grant from Midlothian Council, grants from other organisations and hold fund-raising events.
The grant provided by Midlothian Council is designed to cover the general running costs of the Community Council including meeting room accommodation, the production and circulation of minutes, agenda, and reports, telephone, publicity and promotions and consultations.
If a community council disbands after all debts have been paid the remaining funds and any assets transfer back to Midlothian Council who will hold these for the benefit of a future Community Council. If a Community Council is not re-established for the area, Midlothian Council may provide the funding to another organisation within the area, for example to enable projects to be completed.
Complaints
Complaints about a Community Council are handled by the Midlothian Federation of Community Councils.