Community Council elections 2019: A message from Community Councillor Andrew MacKenzie

Nominations to become an elected member of Leith Links Community Council are currently being accepted until 30 September 2019.

The last LLCC election was held in 2016 when seventeen candidates stood for election (with twelve positions available). 586 members of our community voted which represented a turnout of 6.9%.


Ever find yourself standing on the street in your neighbourhood, looking at something you think is being done badly – or could be done better – and scratching your head and thinking: “Now why are they doing that like that? Who the hell’s idea was it? And who are they anyway? Where is the department of joined-up thinking when you need them? And how come it’s the first we’ve ever heard about it?”

 

I don’t mind admitting that the main reason I became involved in the community council was because I’d become bored of my own belly-aching about this, that and the other thing, standing on the fringes and feeling frustrated at the sorry state of affairs that sometimes seems to pass for progress and development in our public and civic realm.

 

It’s not all bad of course. And if I’d really wanted to change anything I might have gone into actual politics. One of the great things about community councils is that they are non-political. Which doesn’t mean that we don’t have political views, it’s just that they are not material to the voluntary work that community councils do. No time is wasted on ideological dispute or partisanship. Pragmatism is the currency of a well-functioning parish pump.

 

And while it’s true that they only have very limited powers, community councils do continue to have some influence and can be a power for good. There are plenty of positives. And that’s certainly been my experience of Leith Links Community Council in the three years that I’ve been one of its elected members.

 

It may be the bottom rung of the democratic ladder, but it’s an important rung, and a solid one. Grounded in the grassroots. We’re not nosey neighbours but we care about our neighbourhoods, we’re not Nimbies but we do want the best for our backyards. We try to pay attention, we are bothered, and we’d be glad if you joined us.


Could you be a Community Councillor?  On Wednesday 25 September 2019 from 7pm in Leith Community Centre we are hosting an informal information evening for those members of our community thinking about becoming a Community Councillor.  The event is being hosted jointly with Leith Harbour & Newhaven Community Council.  All welcome.

 

Click on the image for more information.