Boundary Commission proposes to shrink the Black Isle

30 September 2015

Earlier this year the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland, in its fifth review, proposed, among other changes in the Highlands, to reduce the size of the Black Isle electoral ward, reduce the number of councillors for the ward from four to three and rename it as Ward 9 (formerly 10).  The purpose of the proposed changes is presumably to increase the parity of population and representation between wards, and the effect of the boundary change would be to remove an area centred round Redcastle, extending from Charleston westwards and south of the A835, from the Black Isle and add it to Dingwall and Seaforth ward.  At the end of July the Commission announced a consultation period which ends on 22 October.

In its response to the Commission regarding this and other proposed changes in the Highlands, Highland Council accepted the reduction in the number of councillors but unanimously rejected the proposed boundary change and requested that the Black Isle ward boundary remain as it is at present.

There are links below to the relevant Commission and Council documents.

Boundary Commission review proposals for Highland
Existing Black Isle ward boundary map
Proposed change to ward boundary map
Chief Executive's report to Highland Council
Highland Council response to Boundary Commission proposals .

The Boundary Commission invites organisations or members of the public to comment on their proposals by Thursday 22 October, noting that all comments received will be displayed on their website:

in writing to:  Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland
                      Thistle House
                      91 Haymarket Terrace
                      Edinburgh EH12 5HD
by email to:   lgbcs@scottishboundaries.gov.uk
online:           www.consultation.lgbc-scotland.gov.uk

The Boundary Commission website is at  http://www.lgbc-scotland.gov.uk