Councillors are to be elected for each of the nine wards of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, with the number of members to be elected for each ward as follows:

Nomination forms can be obtained from the Election Office at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Sandwick Road, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis or at the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar offices in Tarbert, Balivanich and Barra.  These offices are open for the issue and delivery of nomination papers on weekdays from Tuesday 14th March 2017 between 10am to 4pm.

Completed nomination forms must be delivered to the Returning Officer at one of the above addresses by 4pm on Wednesday 29th March 2017.

An election will be held in each contested ward and voting will take place between 7am and 10pm on Thursday 4th May 2017.

Applications to register to vote must reach the Electoral Registration Officer, 42 Point Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis by midnight on Monday 17th April 2017. Applications can be made online: https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

Postal or Proxy Voting:

Any elector may apply for a postal or proxy vote at this election.

Applications, amendments or cancellations of postal votes must reach the Electoral Registration Officer, 42 Point Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis by 5pm on Tuesday 18th April 2017.

Applications to vote by proxy at this election must reach the Electoral Registration Officer, 42 Point Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis by 5pm on Tuesday 25th April 2017.

Applications to amend or cancel existing proxy arrangements must reach the Electoral Registration Officer, 42 Point Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis by 5pm on Tuesday 18th April 2017.

Applications to vote by proxy at this election applied for on grounds of physical incapacity or for work/service reasons must reach the Electoral Registration Officer, 42 Point Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis by 5pm on Thursday 4th May 2017. The physical incapacity must have occurred after 5pm on Tuesday 25th April 2017.  To apply on the grounds of work/service, the person must have become aware that they cannot go to the polling station in person after 5pm on Tuesday 25th April 2017.

For advice on postal or proxy voting, contact the Electoral Registration Officer, 42 Point Street, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, telephone 01851 706262, email:  ero@highland.gov.uk

Cllr Angus Campbell (pictured) Chair of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Policy and Resources Committee, has outlined some of the achievements of the committee over the last five years. He was speaking at the final meeting of the committee before the local government elections in May.

He said: “The five balanced budgets we have set have seen us allocate over half a billion pounds to deliver Comhairle services with a focus on our elderly population and our young people.

“This has not always been easy for us with some £25 million of savings to find across the term. However, through good planning and management, along with the strategic use of balances we have found over 85 per cent of this without affecting services.  Our full-time-equivalent employee numbers have gone from 1906 in March 2010 to 1613 in December 2016 – a reduction of 293.

“In leaving sufficient balances for a further year, I believe we are giving the next Comhairle the best possible opportunity to plan for the further challenges that lie ahead.

“Despite our revenue pressures we have delivered a capital programme that we have grown from an initial £42 million to over £100 million.

During our term we have seen the opening of our seventh new school on North Uist, redevelopment of Ardseileach, the opening of the Lews Castle and Museum, a continued investment in housing amounting to £3 million, more than £13 million of improvements in our roads and infrastructure including improvements to the spinal route at Kyles Leverburgh, North Harris and South Uist and works at Ardveenish Harbour, nearly £2 million invested in community capital projects, a complete refresh of our fitness equipment in our sports centres, construction of additional landfill facilities at Bennadrove and restoration of Rueval Site, construction and commissioning of wind turbines at Creed Business Park and incorporation into onsite facilities, completion of Harris Care Development project, completion of coast protection schemes in South Uist and Barra, and completion of the Hebridean Way.”

Cllr Campbell also highlighted the committee’s investment in fishing, business start-ups, community buyouts, the Capital Grant Fund, the LEADER Programme and Broadband.

He continued: “We have made a £750,000 investment in the local fishing fleet under the Comhairle Fisheries Investment Scheme and supported 250 business start-ups. The Outer Hebrides LEADER 2007–2013 Programme supported 111 projects ranging from new community buildings and shops to events and services that will benefit people of all ranges. We have also supported community buyouts, helping to bring 75 per cent of the islands’ land mass under community ownership, and £2.3 million secured from Scottish Government Regeneration Capital Grant Fund.

Whilst the LEADER 2007-2013 programme allocated £3.26m to projects throughout the Outer Hebrides, it also assisted to lever in over £5.5m in additional funding.

Furthermore a successful bid to the Scottish Government for the Rural Broadband Challenge Fund resulted in additional funding of over £263k being secured to assist three communities – North Harris, Tolsta and Dalmore – to introduce broadband infrastructure to the areas.

On LEADER, Cllr Campbell said: “Since the programme first started in 1991 to 2013 a total of 771 projects have received LEADER funding throughout the Outer Hebrides, and this LEADER funding together with other match funding have contributed to a total programme value of £25.7 million.”

“The Outer Hebrides 2014-2020 LEADER and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Local Development Strategy was the first to be approved in Scotland.  It was allocated £3.17m LEADER funding, with £528k allocated to the EMFF programme to support the development of projects throughout the Outer Hebrides.

“Since opening for applications in March 2016 the Outer Hebrides LEADER 2014-2020 Programme has approved funding to 17 projects resulting in a total commitment of over £1m LEADER funding, 43 per cent of the Outer Hebrides total LEADER budget.

“This current LEADER programme not only supports community projects but also assists businesses to develop innovative new sustainable ideas.”

 Cllr Campbell also referred to Our Islands: Our Future, the campaign to secure more powers for Island areas: “When we first discussed working together with Shetland and Orkney towards common aims I certainly had not anticipated that in 2017 we would have formal engagement arrangements with both governments and be looking forward to the imminent introduction of an Islands Bill as well as working towards a ‘Deal for the Islands’ and consultation on further devolution of the Crown Estate a local levels.

On Renewable Energy Cllr Campbell said: “Taking advantage of our renewable energy resources has continued to be a challenge. We have continued to engage with government, regulators and transmission operators to make the case for the Western Isles Radial Connector, engaged with government to establish a new island-specific technology category of ‘Remote Island Wind’ alongside a differentiated island strike price, and  worked closely with and resourced Community Energy Scotland to support community generators from Barra to the Butt to Barra.”

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has also sought to redress the issue of fuel poverty allied with supporting housing developments.

Cllr Campbell said: “We have sought to address the unacceptable levels of fuel poverty in our communities by engaging with government and  also putting  in place a multi-agency Community Planning Partnership Fuel Poverty Strategy and Action Plan that takes a holistic three-strand approach that encompasses energy efficiency of buildings, household income levels and the cost of fuel. More than £12 million of investment has gone into new homes through the national Home Energy Efficiency Programme.  This investment, led by the Comhairle, will have positive impacts on fuel poverty levels and the quality of our housing stock.

“We have delivered 150 new affordable homes in partnership with HHP. We have supported this housing programme with grant aid and have contributed land.  Our input has been significant.  In most cases it has made the difference between a housing development going ahead or not.  

“We have delivered a new 24 bed shared temporary accommodation facility at The Acres.  This has transformed the Homeless service along with the additional properties we have purchased off the open market.  Anyone homeless in our community should not now face long periods within unsuitable bed and breakfast accommodation.  This has been a massive step forward.”

 Concluding, Cllr Campbell made reference to the Syrian Families Resettlement Programme: “We have resettled six Syrian refugee families under a UK programme.  I would like to thank our community for the kindness that they have shown to our new residents.”

Council tax bills issued by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar next week will see the first increases since 2007 following the reform of council tax bands by the Scottish Government and the decision of the council to raise an additional 3%.

This 3% increase will contribute an estimated £380,000 towards Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s budget for 2017/18 and is part of a range of measures to reduce a £6.1m funding gap to £2.5m.

Additionally, from 1st April 2017, the way council tax is charged on properties in bands E,F,G and H is changing as a result of legislation introduced by the Scottish Government. These changes will increase the income Comhairle nan Eilean Siar receives from council tax by a further £160,000 as a consequence of the increases in the amounts levied in these bands.

These vary by band and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has no discretion to vary the increases which are as follows: Band E +7.5%; Band F +12.5%; Band G +17.5% and Band H +22.5%. The majority of houses in the islands are valued between bands A to D.

Households with an annual income of up to £25,000 (£16,750 for a single household) can apply for a full exemption of the increased charge and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar would encourage those who are eligible to contact staff in the Revenues and Benefits Team as detailed in the leaflet included with their bill.

 The table below illustrates the changes in bills from 2016/17 to 2017/18 and the reasons for them:

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has set its budget for 2016/17 with £1.439million of service savings.

Because of a reduction in settlement funding of £4.5%, the Comhairle was obliged to make the service savings as part of an overall package of £8.5m of savings.

Over the past few months, a series of proposals were put forward for savings and consulted widely on across the islands.

A number of proposals have now been reconfigured in the budget put forward by Leader Angus Campbell and seconded by Convener Norman A MacDonald.

These include reviewing the residential provision at Hillcrest which has been agreed on the basis that Comhairle nan Eilean Siar requires to be satisfied with the transitional arrangements to a new service and that the saving be deferred to 2017/18.

Savings from Stornoway Bus Station and public conveniences were not agreed on the basis that that a wider review of facilities be conducted including the possibility of franchising. The coffee shop in Stornoway Library will also be offered as a franchise.

Stornoway Abattoir will not close but charges will be increased and the future operation be considered. Evening bus services was not agreed as a saving.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar agreed that discussions take place with the existing operator of the Stornoway-Benbecula air service with a view to revising the service to meet the community’s aspirations. It was also agreed that as RET is now in place on the inter-island ferry services the Comhairle funded discount scheme would be discontinued.

A proposal to make savings on roads maintenance was agreed but only at 50% of the original target whilst consideration will also be given to how capital funds could be used to make up the amount. A proposal to reduce Community Council Social Grants was discarded but instead ward funding for members will be reduced to £5k saving £19k.

Itinerant teaching staff in primary schools will be discontinued although the staff are to be retained.

The potential for further savings by switching off all streetlights between May and October will be explored. Membership fees for the Comhairle’s Sports Centres discount scheme – Slàinte Math – will increase and the Grounds Maintenance Contract will be reduced.  A shared headship will be implemented for Lionel School and Sgoil an Taobh Siar.

Comhairle Leader Angus Campbell said: “This has undoubtedly been a difficult process for the Comhairle and our communities. Following extensive consultation we have listened carefully to our communities and their priorities – I believe that this has been reflected in the outcome of the Comhairle’s budget. This has been challenging and will continue to be in the foreseeable future. There is no sign of an end to austerity for local government.”

A meeting in North Uist to discuss budget priorities for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar will now take place at a different venue.

Instead of taking place in Carinish Hall – as previously advertised – the forum will be held in Paible School at 8pm on Friday 20th November.

Please note, in the latest edition of Am Pàipear (out on 29th October) the former location is advertised.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar will be holding a series of budget consultation meetings throughout the Western Isles over the coming weeks.

In other changes, the Stornoway meeting now being held in the council chambers and the Westside meeting has been moved to Monday 16th November.

Part of the Comhairle’s budget setting preparations, which also include staff consultations, the meetings are an opportunity for members of the public to have their say in the prioritisation of services.

Meetings will take place locally on 20th November as follows:

5pm in Daliburgh School, South Uist

then

8pm in Paible School, North Uist