Nominations are being sought for community councils representing Melrose and District, Tweedbank, Lauderdale, and Oxton and Channelkirk after their terms of office ended.
Anyone who is 18 or over, is a resident in the community council area and is on the electoral role is eligible to stand.
This week Leaderdale and Melrose Scottish Borders Council ward councillors David Parker and Jim Torrance urged everyone in the local community to think carefully about standing. Councillor David Parker said: “It is extremely important to ensure that we have good, active councils.
“All four community councils in the Leaderdale and Melrose area have worked very hard to improve local facilities and dealt with local issues over the last few years - and community councillors play a vital part in the democratic process.”
Councillor Jim Torrance added: “I would also be very keen to encourage as many young people as possible to come forward to the community councils.
“Community councils work hard to represent everyone in their community, and younger people can give a very important perspective on the needs of communities.”
Community councils play an important part in local democracy and in recent years the four community councils that are now up for election have had many issues to deal with.
In Oxton and Channelkirk there has been the ongoing debate around windfarms and proposals to improve the village and surrounding area.
In Lauderdale, there has been much discussion about the development of new facilities, with the community council playing an active role in the delivery of the new health centre and primary school.
Melrose and District Community Council has dealt with the development of the new Borders Crematorium and has worked hard to support many local groups such as Melrose in Bloom.
In Tweedbank, the community council will play a significant role in preparing the village for the arrival of the new Borders Railway.
Anyone interested in standing can download information and nomination forms from.scotborders.gov.uk/ccelections. Alternatively, between May 1 and 15 nominations forms will be available locally.
The closing date for nominations is May 15.