DALWHINNIE COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Community Councils are voluntary organisations set up by statute by the Local Authority (in Dalwhinnie’s case Highland Council) and run by local residents to act on behalf of its area.
Members are elected every five years, and the number of members varies depending upon the size and geography of the community. Dalwhinnie Community Council can have up to eight elected members, and must have at least four. The Community Council must meet at least six times a year, and these meetings are open to all villagers.
As well as representing the community to Highland Council, the Community Council has a statutory right to be consulted on applications for planning permission and other key local planning matters, and can advise, petition, lobby and advocate in respect of issues of concern both to the village as a community, and to individual villagers.
Planning authorities will also receive comments and objections on planning applications from “statutory consultees” such as Scottish Natural Heritage or Historic Environment Scotland, from neighbours (who are given special notification), and from a wide range of other interested parties, but the community council has a special role, representing a broader yet still local view that can be set alongside the comments of those with a more individual interest.
A link to local planning applications can be found below.
Planning authorities are obliged by law to decide planning applications in accordance with the “local development plan” for the area, unless there are good reasons for doing otherwise. The local development plan for Dalwhinnie is prepared by Highland Council in consultation with the community council, who in turn consult the villagers, usually through an open meeting.
A link to the current local plan for Dalwhinnie can be found on the Community Information page.
The current Dalwhinnie Community Council was elected in April 2024 and has eight members. The four office bearers can be contacted at the email addresses given below:
- Jen Dickinson (Chair) (dalwhinniechair@gmail.com)
- Mike Chappell (Vice Chair) (dalwhinnievicechair@gmail.com)
- Nikki Penny (Secretary) (dalwhinniesecretary@gmail.com)
- Si Conroy (Treasurer) (dalwhinnietreasurer@gmail.com)
- David Haggarty
- Lesley Carr
- Deborah Munday
- Bill Carr
COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
The Dalwhinnie Community Council will meet at least six times a year, and these meetings will often be attended by a local Highland Councillor. All meetings are open to local residents, and an agenda published in advance. Meeting dates and agendas, and the minutes of previous meetings, can be found using the links below.
If you have any questions or have any local issues that you’d like added to the agenda of a meeting, please get in touch with the Community Council chair at dalwhinniechair@gmail.com, or with any of the office bearers.