The community council in the north-east’s biggest town could be forced to fold due to a shortage of members.
Peterhead Community Council could be dissolved before the end of August if no new volunteers come forward.
Chairman John Brownlee yesterday warned a “lack of interest within the local community” could trigger a section of the constitution which will end the group’s involvement in shaping town policy.
The group is allowed up to 20 members but currently has just half that number, and recent attempts to bring more people on board have failed.
Mr Brownlee said: “We feel that there is no interest in the community for us to continue ad if no-one comes forward then we will dissolve the community council.
“We only need three or four people to come forward, we don’t need hundreds.”
A meeting to decide the fate of the community council has been set for Wednesday, August 17 at Peterhead Academy from 6.30pm.
Anyone who attends the meeting will be able to vote on whether or not the group is dissolved. A three quarters majority would be needed to close the council permanently.
However if there is sufficient turnout and new membership, the group will continue.
Community councils are designed to bridge the gap between local authorities and communities and are supposed to represent residents’ views in discussions with public bodies.
The groups are non-party political and act as a statutory consultee on a range of matters with Aberdeenshire Council – crucially on matters of planning.
Council’s also have the power to request that Aberdeenshire Council officers or staff from the emergency services attend meetings to give briefings and answer questions.
Recently Peterhead Community Council took part in the Choose Peterhead project, which last month published a report calling for a new theatre in the town centre to promote culture.
