What is the Community Council?

​The Innerleithen Community Council is a group of local residents who meet monthly to discuss issues of concern with the elected councillors for the ward of Tweeddale East. The role of the community councillors is to represent the interests of the community to our representatives within the local authority, and occasionally to representatives at higher levels of government.
​Although community councillors do not have decision-making powers, they can help facilitate communication between residents and elected councillors. They also administer projects to improve local amenities and services, and raise awareness of council plans and services that may impact the area. ​At the moment, most Community Council business revolves around assessing local planning applications, liaising with utility providers, advocating for local businesses and discussing ways to both attract and accommodate tourism in and around Innerleithen.
For further details on current business, take a look at the overview of issues under discussion by the Community Council or download the full minutes from meetings over the past twelve months:
Minutes are also posted publicly on the noticeboard inside the Coop and the noticeboard outside The Bike Shop, on the exterior wall opposite the Vale Club on Leithen Road.

Who serves on the Community Council?

The Community Council is a statutory body that can be made up of as many as twelve volunteers. In practice, however, there are often vacancies on the Community Council as the membership does not reach twelve. The Community Council is not affiliated with any political party and is a non-discriminatory organisation. Anyone can volunteer to join, and may be either elected to a position or co-opted by the existing membership.
The current membership includes:
  • Susan Meikle (Chair)
  • Daniel Davis Wood (Treasurer)
  • George Brown
  • Ylva Dahnsjo
  • Andy Weir
  • Colin Williams
Elected councillors are ex officio members:​
Meetings are held at 7.15pm on the first Monday of each month, excluding August, in the council chamber of the Memorial Hall.

Who can join the Community Council?

In short: anyone who is a resident of Innerleithen, Cardrona, Traquair, Kirkhouse or The Glen is welcome to join the Community Council. ​If you'd like to get involved, or even if you'd just like to find out more about the group, please get in touch using the form below.