JUST exactly where is “Merkinch”, the local Community Council are to ask Highland Council. Currently Merkinch Community Council is working on a draft of their updated constitution - but the area covered by the HC ward has changed.

One member said he thought that the area covered by the Community Council should be defined. Chairman Ali MacLean said that it certainly would be ridiculous to follow the boundaries of the Merkinch ward which at the last election had changed.
“How do we define the area,” he said. “It would be ridiculous to have half a street in Park and the other half in Merkinch. We should stick to the old Merkinch ward.” Dell McLurg pointed out that at the time of the local reorganisation HC had advised that community councils should continue to cover the area they had before. It was agreed to seek the guidance of HC in the matter. Still on the constitution, it was agreed that members who did not attend meetings for three months without good reason should automatically lose their place on the council. Previously it was six months, which sometimes caused difficulty in achieving a quorum.

• Maclennan Crescent improvements had been approved by HC though everyone was aware that doing the costing, finding the finance and completing the scheme would take some time. However, was hoped there would be a beginning made in the next few months.
• The police reported that progress was continuing and they were increasingly receiving the public’s support. They were aware of problems in certain areas, but it was necessary to prioritise, depending on the issues raised.
• Next meeting of the Community Council is Thursday 10th May at Merkinch Primary School, when Caron Rowley from Action Team for Jobs will be the guest speaker.