Council / Revised community council scheme approved but change to minimum age draws debate
A REVIEW of Shetland’s community council scheme has come to a close – with not too much set to change.
But amending the minimum age for associate membership from 16 years old to 12 drew concern from some councillors on the topic of safeguarding and responsibility.
At a meeting of the full Shetland Islands Council (SIC) on Tuesday elected members were told that community councillors would not need PVG [Protecting Vulnerable Groups] checks, with North Isles member Robert Thomson claiming that could be a “very shaky road to go down” if there ended up being complaints.
But SIC chief executive Maggie Sandison said members of the council’s youth services team could accompany young people if required – and stressed that community council meetings are public, therefore anyone of any age can attend.
With the revised community council scheme signed off in the end, one of the other elements set to change is the funding mechanism.
Shetland will retain its 18 community councils and their geographical boundaries.
The last major review of the scheme was held in the 1990s.
There were three rounds of consultation as part of the latest review.
Only 16 survey forms were received in the last round of consultation but this was expected as community councils had already provided full responses during the earlier phases.
The report to SIC elected members said the new scheme would give community councils “increased autonomy” on how to manage budget allocations.
In 2025/26 nearly £300,000 is set to be split between Shetland’s 18 community councils.
Among the other changes are that anyone who is elected to serve on Shetland Islands Council, the Scottish Parliament, the UK Parliament or the UK Youth Parliament will be ineligible to remain community councillor, to stand for election or be co-opted as a voting member of a community council.
These people will become “ex officio” members and not have voting rights.
The report to councillors said that the revised scheme should bring benefits such as:
- Streamlined application process through new consolidated grant scheme
- Community Councils having increased autonomy over budget allocation
- Enhanced governance arrangements with introduction of standing orders and revised code of conduct
- Stronger links to local youth groups and forums
- Closer alignment to other local authorities’ schemes for the establishment of community councils
At Tuesday’s meeting much of the debate, however, was on the plan to lower the minimum age of associate community council members to from 16 to 12.
Associate members do not have voting rights, and in the public consultation the majority of respondents supported dropping the age to 12.
Community council liaison officer Michael Duncan told Tuesday’s meeting that there would be no legal requirement to have PVGs and disclosure checks in place for community councillors.
But he said young associate members could be looked at on a “case by case basis”, ensuring the “right support” is there.
Thomson, however, said this gave him “some cause for concern” given that if he was teaching sailing to 12 year olds, for example, he would need a PVG check.
He said if there was an allegation from a young person that someone was being “overbearing” and they complained, it could leave the community council in a “rather insecure position”, he suggested.
The PVG scheme is managed by Disclosure Scotland and it helps ensure people who are unsuitable to work with children and protected adults cannot do regulated work with these vulnerable groups.
Sandison responded to Thomson by saying that community council meetings are public ones that anyone can attend, and it is not routinely expected that people taking part in public meetings need a PVG before a child comes along.
She added that youth services staff support young people when they attend SIC meetings, such as members of the Scottish Youth Parliament, and this could be replicated for young people at community council meetings if necessary.
This could be written into the youth workers’ service plan, Sandison added.
During debate Lerwick North and Bressay councillor Stephen Leask said he was struggling with the topic and suggested it needed to be delved into further.
Liz Peterson said both of the community councils she attends in the Westside also expressed concern about the plans, and while they were generally in favour of young folk getting involved, it could “open a can of worms”.
She questioned who would be left responsible if a young person was dropped off at meeting but was not collected.
Convener Andrea Manson said ultimately the responsibility would be for the parent or guardian.
Meanwhile Shetland Central member Catherine Hughson said from her own experience there was a risk that community councils could apply to Disclosure Scotland for PVGs but simply be told they are not needed.
SIC legal chief Jan Riise said Hughson had “nailed it” regarding her comment and added that parents would have responsibility for their children attending meetings.
He said the SIC could provide community councils with guidance that they could then pass onto parents.
Riise said this could look at things more positively and be more about “embracing the idea” – highlighting that young people who attend community council meetings could, potentially, be inspired to become SIC members in the future.
He also highlighted how community workers also attend most community council meetings.
Shetland Central member Moraig Lyall successfully proposed that wording be added into the revised scheme that community councils notify SIC’s youth services if a young person under the age of 16 is appointed as an associate member.
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