A new beginning for Arran Community Council?

By The Voice Editor   Posted in Issue 163
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I first wrote about Community for Voice for Arran in January 2024 prompted following discussions on the Arran Development Plan in that there were 3 strands with three groups looking at the 10 year plan with a long-term strategic focus developed with and for the community: these 3 strands are ECONOMY, COMMUNITY, ENVIRONMENT. I introduced the ideas in Community and present understanding of what we mean. Shown again below:

Firstly, what do we mean by community? There are many definitions:

  • It is a collective of people who come together, either physically or virtually, to support and engage with each other, forming a sense of belonging and shared identity. The benefits of having a community are numerous. It can be one locality, one national, transnational.
  • A social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage. A locality inhabited by such a group.
  • It can be team based, with organisational cultures, national mindsets.

How does power affect a community?

  • Power structures within society have a significant impact on social dynamics, influencing how individuals and groups interact, behave, and relate to one another. These power structures can shape social hierarchies, control access to resources and opportunities, and determine the distribution of authority and influence.
  • What is power within a community? Power in a community is the ability to affect the decision-making process and the use of resources, both public and private, within a community or watershed group. Power is simply the capacity to bring about change. It is the energy that gets things done.
  • What does power mean in society? The capacity to influence power, in political science and sociology, is the capacity to influence, lead, dominate, or otherwise have an impact on the life and actions of others in society. The concept of power encompasses, but is not limited to, the notion of authority.
  • What does power mean socially? Social power is the influence that an individual or an organisation has over others in a society. It is mostly achieved by gaining recognition from others. It can be achieved by many different means, such as wealth, status, or fame.
  • What is the full meaning of power? Great or marked ability to do or act; strength; might; force. The possession of control or command over people; authority; influence: Words have tremendous power over our minds.

When we first came to live on Arran in 2004 Arran Community Council (ACC) seemed a strong advocate for Arran with NAC. We could read about the decisions etc in the local paper. So, what happened over time, why has ACC appeared a shadow of its former self in recent years; is it just because reports of its activities do not appear except on line, whereas other organisations, with seemingly economic but non statutory power are dominating the local media, discussions on spending money on Arran and acting as distributor of funds from NAC and other resources? We all need to better understand the role of ACC so the main part of this article is about ACC.

Just recently an advertised AGM of ACC, in The Arran Banner, was held on Monday 12th January 2026 in the Ormidale Pavilion from 1800 hrs. This was an open, public meeting of the newly elected potential members of the Arran Community Council and sadly, I was the only member of the general public who attended. WHY? Whilst there is vocal complaining on social media and in The Arran Banner about “The Tide of Discontent rises as Arran’s ‘voice ignored’” (20 February 2026). Here is our statutory body linked to North Ayrshire Council not clearly supported by us the public, and perhaps not fully by NAC either. We have become an island of moaners with a sense of entitlement.

We moan about planning, about trees being chopped down, white lines on the roads, about social services, about wastage of public money, about money being wasted on ridiculous projects. We all need to get active in changing attitudes and supporting ACC in playing a leading role in advocacy for Arran islanders. As a result of that meeting on 12 January ACC now has a quorate membership. Quorate describes a meeting or committee that has the necessary minimum number of members present to officially conduct business, vote, or make decisions. It is the statutory body for the island of Arran and has now appointed a chair, secretary and finance member. We all need to understand what is a Community Council in North Ayrshire? We all also need to recognise that it is OUR Community Council. Do you understand it and its powers? How can we support it? NAC must also support it. Sidelining it whilst other non-statutory activities are soaking up funds for pet projects will diminish the sense of community for the future; and the model of “most power wins’ leads to discontent and disillusion, not just at national government level but in local communities.

ARRAN COMMUNITY COUNCIL

Community Councils are the most local tier of statutory representation in Scotland (their purpose is set out in law). They bridge the gap between local authorities and communities. They help to make public bodies, such as the Council, aware of the opinions and needs of the communities they represent. Their main purpose is to be representative of their local community, gather community opinion, and share the views of the community with the local authority and other public bodies.

Many Community Councils also involve themselves in a wide range of other activities including fundraising, organising community events, undertaking environmental, educational and arts projects and other activities that engage the general public. They should actively consult and engage with local people.

In North Ayrshire, Community Councils have another role to play as members of the Locality Planning Partnerships. The chair of each Community Council is invited to sit on the Partnership to represent their Communities. Community Councils are involved at the heart of Locality Partnerships to help make sure that the priorities and work of Community Planning Partners, Community Councils and the Community are right for their local area and everyone is working to achieve the same goals.

Community Councils members are elected and anyone who is aged 16 or over and lives locally can stand for election. So, we on Arran have a new recently elected/nominated community council.

Caroline Logan Brodick. She was appointed in Nov 2025.

Isla Anderson Brodick. representative. Appointed Jan 2026

Jim Henderson Lamlash (Secretary). First appointed in September 2010. Resigned in October 2021 and was Reinstated Oct 2022.

Adam Norman Lamlash. Co-Opted November 2025

Jen MacDonald Kildonan-Sliddery (Treasurer). Co-Opted November 2025

Dr John Adam Pirnmill (Vice Chair). He was appointed in 2022.

Bob Haddow Whiting Bay. Served a long apprenticeship in council matters for 11 years as a member of Bute County Council. Now last surviving member of that Council on Arran.

Tom Young Whiting Bay. (Chair) Appointed in 2021.

Open positions on Arran Community Council are available in the following locations for anyone who is on the electoral register within the location.

Vacancy – Corrie & Sannox

Vacancy – Lochranza

Vacancy – 2 members for Shiskine Valley

ACC meetings are held on the last Tuesday of each month in the Ormidale Sports Pavilion in Brodick. There is no meeting held in December. The meetings start at 6:00pm and all members of the public are welcome to attend; details will be in the local press.

NAC COUNCILLOR Cllr. Charles Currie: Arran is represented on North Ayrshire Council by one councillor. He holds regular surgeries on the 1st Saturday of every month at Ormidale Sports Pavilion, Brodick, Isle of Arran. – 11.00 am – 12 noon

So, we need on Arran a vibrant, knowledgeable statutory Community Council. We need more discussion meetings with ACC and islanders, of all ages and localities. Creative discussions and openness to learning what is possible. We need a strong Community Council as an advocate for all islanders, not just sectional interests or those who can shout the loudest. Think how you can help this? Where do we go from here?

  • Work frequently focussed on planning applications. ACC needs a much wider involvement on policy, guidelines, master plans.
  • There needs a standardised agenda to ensure certain aspects are raised each month to ensure “pet projects” do not dominate ACC business.
  • Are there good examples of community councils in North Ayrshire or Ayrshire as a whole? What makes them good representatives of their communities?
  • Is NAC really committed to its community councils going forward? If not why not?
  • It should be mandatory for Arran’s NAC Councillor to attend ACC meetings, and the NAC Islands Officer to also be there several times per year.

Finally, some sincere thanks for service to ACC.

At the end of 2025 Bill Calderwood stood down from ACC after many years as chair and active member and frequently representing Arran islanders as chair of ACC on various other committees on Arran and wider afield. There are few who are willing to give such service as a volunteer over many years and Arran owes a debt to Bill who has kept ACC active and alive in the face of others muscling in on areas traditionally channelled through ACC. A great deal of work, often thankless, for the community at large, which has often found it easier to criticise than work for the good of the whole community. Thank you, Bill.

Sally Campbell

March 2026

 

References: For further information on NAC and Community Councils

NAC has 17 Community Councils, covering areas like Ardrossan, Arran, Beith, Cumbrae, Dalry, Dreghorn, Fairlie, Girdle Toll, Irvine, Kilbirnie & Glengarnock, Kilwinning, Largs, Saltcoats, Skelmorlie, Springside, Stevenston, and West Kilbride, though some might be dormant and require re-establishment.

Active vs. Dormant: While there are 17 designated areas, some (like Ardrossan, Dalry, Dreghorn, Girdle Toll, Saltcoats, and Springside) have been dormant and the council seeks volunteers to re-establish them, according to the Ardrossan Herald.

What North Ayrshire says: ”How we engage with communities”

Where does ACC fit in the broader structure?

North Ayrshire Council has been building its approach to community empowerment, strengthening communities and supporting community organisations. The strategic direction is set out in the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015.

Increasing community control over decisions and assets (Sally: “in theory”!)

Local people know their communities better than anyone. Partnership working allows communities to control their own decisions and shape their future. Initiatives include:

Featured image credit: Arran Community Council