COUNCILLORS WILL BE called to a final meeting of the current Moray Council on Wednesday, March 29 before either campaigning for re-election or preparing for a life away from the Council chamber.
That was the date decided upon by councillors this week – a date that coincides with the final deadline for candidate nominations for the elections being held in May.
Widespread changes are expected in Moray with speculation growing that as many as half of the current crop of Councillors will not be seeking re-election.
The timetable for the 2017 elections was agreed at Wednesday meeting of the Full Council – it will open with a pre-nomination information session for potential candidates who may be interested in putting themselves forward. That will take place on Saturday, March 4 and will be followed on March 13 with the publication of a formal notice of election.
Election day for the new council will be Thursday, May 4 with a count and the results being held in Elgin Town Hall the following day. The 2017 Council elections will be the first in which 16 and 17-year-olds are eligible to vote.
A budget of £273,000 will be required to stage the elections – although £101,000 will be reimbursed by the Scottish Government for costs associated with the electronic counting of votes.
Further information about any aspect of the elections is available from the council’s elections office on 01343 563334 or by e-mailing election.enquiries@moray.gov.uk.