An effort is being made to reform a moribund grassroots umbrella group in Kirkcudbrightshire.
Stewartry Community Council Network fell into abeyance when Stewartry Council for Voluntary Services was wound up in March.
The charity had been providing admin support to the network which has not held any meetings since.
But now Borgue Community Council is leading a bid to reconstitute the organisation with the aim of strengthening local democracy.
Chairman Syd Davison said: “We approached Kirkcudbright Development Trust (KDT) to see if the network could be reconvened.
“There are a lot of things common to all community council areas that we can be working on.
“It is far better to have a uniform approach rather that a scatter gun one on issues of common interest.”
The trust brokered a meeting of community councils last month to gauge demand – with mixed results.
Mr Davison said: “Although I was a bit disappointed with the attendance we are going to give it a go.
“There is provisional agreement to go ahead – provided we get 11 community councils coming on board.
“KDT is going to invite the community councils to attend a meeting between now and the end of March.
“Then we’ll see if there is an interest in setting the network back up.”
Mr Davison added: “I don’t see why there wouldn’t be demand because there is so much hitting us at the moment.
“There’s more planning issues, more forestry planting applications – Borgue Community Council can object to something but it means hee-haw unless there are other community councils in support.
“There’s no planning reason, for example, to stop people planting trees – but they do have to consult community councils.
“The fact they have to hold meetings means community councils have some input.
“And that means there is something you can do to influence it.
“We have more of a chance of doing that by acting together on matters that affect us all.”
Mr Davison urged community councils to recognise the benefits of exchanging knowledge for mutual benefit.
He said: “Not everybody knows how to respond effectively – we can do that by sharing information and encouraging each other.
“If we all write in and give our views on an issue that carries more weight than a scatter gun approach.”
When active, it lobbied on issues such as road repair schedules, recycling and radio links for the housebound.
