A community council is made up of people who care about their community and who want to make their local area a better place to live. The community council has an important role in local democracy, representing local people's views about services to us and other agencies.

Some community councils are more active than others but their activities can include:

• helping with environmental projects
• organising local galas
• printing and distributing local newsletters
• representing the community council's interests in the activities of other organisations
• campaigning on local issues
• carrying out local surveys
• commenting on planning applications

Community councils were set up by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. Under the act we had to introduce community council schemes explaining various arrangements including elections, meetings, boundaries, and finance. We have the freedom to adapt schemes to the particular circumstances of the local area.

Along with other agencies we consult with community councils on issues that are important to each community. However, we are required to consult community councils on planning applications and involve them in the community planning process.

There are different ways that you can get involved:

• you can attend their regular public meetings
• contact them or visit their website
• become a member (please contact your community council's secretary for more details

Not all community councils tell us their meeting dates. However, we do publish the minutes of meetings on our Minutes, Agendas and Reports system which the public can access.