DEALING with community council complaints would be an “administrative burden” for the Wee County local authority, elected members heard last week.

Last Thursday, April 12, local representatives adopted a new scheme for the establishment of community councils in Clackmannanshire, effective immediately, following a lengthy consultation.

However, some were concerned no common complaints handling procedure was set out.

And since the document will only be reviewed in about five years’ time, they were adamant the council needs to get it right this time around.

The chamber at Kilncraigs was told that while one officer does assist community councils with such matters, some of the organisations have their own procedures in place.

When questioned on complaints by Labour Group leader Councillor Dave Clark, officers said: “We need to be careful what we enter into here.

“We would have to administer it. They [community councils] cautioned us over what we would get ourselves into.”

They explained that some councils do administer complaints for community councils while others do not, adding that “negotiations and dialogue” is preferred over sanctions in the area.

Ultimately, it was argued that a common procedure set out in the governing documents would not “enhance” the work of community councils.

There was a recognition that people on community councils are only volunteers who give their time up for free to benefit others, do make valuable contributions and were celebrated cross-party.

For instance, since 2012, all nine in the area have created community development plans with extensive consultation.

Labour’s Cllr George Matchett was concerned that the documents do not set out a proper structure with his worries echoed by fellow Clackmannanshire West’s Conservative Cllr Darren Lee.

Cllr Clark then appealed that the council does not wait five years to review the scheme again.

However, the SNP administration’s Les Sharp highlighted that the consultation has been ongoing since January 2017, when the previous scheme was revoked, and that this was the third paper coming to the chamber on this issue.

He told the opposition: “You’ve missed a trick if you haven’t asked before.”

Depute leader Cllr Phil Fairlie added that generally, one of the aims was to balance assisting community councils versus taking ownership.

Provost Tina Murphy added: “Community councils are an important level of local democracy.

“Their role has evolved in response to the increase in people’s expectations for being involved in local-decision-making, and indeed, the scheme we have just adopted was drawn up with the active involvement of local people.”