PLANS to slash the number of permitted community councils in Inverclyde by more than a quarter have been detailed in a new local authority report.

Elected members are being asked to greenlight a second phase consultation on a raft of 12 proposed changes for community councils - including plans to reduce the allowed number of forums from 11 to eight.

But council officials say the proposed plan would actually increase representation in some of the district's most deprived areas, including Port Glasgow East, Greenock East, Greenock Central and Hole Farm and Cowdenknowes, which currently have no community council representation.

The local authority has noted that the highest number of community councils established since existing rules came into effect in 2011 is nine - with only seven having been operational for most of this period. 

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Officers say that despite a desire to retain the existing boundaries being expressed in consultation feedback so far, they believe that the history of areas in Inverclyde which have not had community council’s established shows that fundamental change is required.

The report states: “Aligning the community council areas with other locality-based community groups and locality plans will collocate community-based actions, enhance communication and encourage new community members to become involved in local democratic decision making.

“The smaller number of community councils covering larger areas will be more inclusive and is reflective of the challenges involved in engaging local people participating in community groups and community councils.”

Greenock Telegraph: Proposed community council boundaries in Inverclyde

The new boundaries drawn up by officers would see Gourock and Port Glasgow covered by a single community council each, with the Kingston Dock housing scheme included in the Port group.

The existing Inverkip and Wemyss Bay community council would be retained, while Kilmacolm Community Council would be expanded to include Quarriers Village.

Officers state that the population of Greenock is too large to be covered by a single community council and so are proposing it be covered by several local forums, therefore Greenock West and Cardwell Bay Community Council would be renamed Greenock West, with its boundary now ending at the Battery Park.

Much of the area previously covered by Larkfield, Braeside and Branchton Community Council and Greenock Southwest Community Council would become part of a single community council area called Greenock Southwest, which would also include the currently vacant Spango Valley site.

The majority of the Hole Farm and Cowdenknowes and Greenock Central Community Council zones would be amalgamated into a single Greenock Central Community Council.

The new Greenock Central, Port Glasgow and Kingston Dock, Inverkip and Wemyss Bay and Greenock East areas would take in sectors previously included in the Kilmacolm zone.

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The report also details an action plan containing commitments from the Inverclyde Association of Community Councils and Inverclyde Council’s community learning and development team to encourage people to become more involved in their community and improve training for new and existing community councillors.

If councillors approved the draft scheme, the plans will be put out for a further eight-week consultation.