About the Newton Community Council
There has been a Community Council in Newton for many years, and many long-time residents have served at least once. Most recently, the Community Council was relaunched in 2009 under the latest Scheme for the Establishment of Community Councils in Scotland, adopted by the West Lothian Council in June 2009. Click here to read about the Scheme.
Under the new Scheme up to 12 Community Councillors may be elected for the Newton district. Nine Community Councillors were nominated in 2009, and took office unopposed in October of that year; a tenth Councillor was co-opted onto the Community Council unanimously in March 2011. The next elections for Community Councillors will take place in October 2013.
In addition, the Councillors from Ward 1 of the Local Authority (West Lothian), our constituency MP and MSP, and all regional MSPs (for Lothians) and MEPs (for Scotland) are ex officio members of the Community Council.
As required by West Lothian's Community Councils Scheme, the Newton Community Council adopted a Constitution and Standing Orders in January 2010; the Constitution was amended in October 2010 to change the month of its AGM:
• click here for a copy of the current Constitution
• click here for a copy of the current Standing Orders
Community Councils have statutory responsibilities to represent the views of the residents of their districts in planning and licensing matters. In addition, Community Councils may undertake a wide range of activities on issues of interest to the community at large. It is the view of the current Council that the most pressing issue confronting us at present is the Forth Replacement Crossing. For that reason, the Council has formed a Forth Crossing Working Group; click here to read more about its activities.
To be effective, the Community Council needs the participation of as many of its residents as possible:
• come to the meetings
• contact us with your views
Get involved in your community!