The role of speaking up for local communities to public bodies is central to the work load. Community Council meetings are also the place where councillors can keep in touch with issues in their patch. Depute Convener Beth Gordon is a great believer. Before re-organisation there were over a hundred councillors representing people in Dumfries and Galloway now there are 47. Depute Leader Joan Mitchell is also a champion of Community Councils.
Community councillors do a difficult, and often thankless job, serving their communities.
They are often at the forefront of local initiatives, and delivering the annual events that are the core of community life. The new scheme for Community Councils came into effect on October 8 1997. This is the first time that all Community Councils will be elected on the same day. There are 13 areas without councils. These will only come into being if 20 people in the community area sign up to show support for the idea.