Community councillors in Strathearn have hit out at Perth and Kinross Council by accusing it of taking major decisions without relevant consultation.
The Strathearn and District Forum of Community Councils (SDFCC) has been formed and comprises members from Auchterarder and District, Crieff, Comrie, Blackford, Braco, Dunning, East Strathearn, Muthill and Tullibardine, and St Fillans community councils.
The forum wants the local authority to be involved in a more open dialogue.
It has written to Bernadette Malone, the local authority’s chief executive, to set out a series of grievances. These include disquiet regarding “key aspects” of the council’s governance, particularly on perceived breach of due process, and on the “strong perception” that elected members are not always properly informed or consulted.
The letter sent to Ms Malone states: “We share the concerns of community councils in Kinross and Kinross-shire at the recent decision to absorb the previously independent conservation officers into the planning department for administrative convenience.
“We particularly deplore the diminution in the officers’ reporting role and ask that in future all applications dealing with important listed buildings, or within a conservation area, should have a separate conservation officer report, which should be a public document and made available to the council’s development management committee.”
The letter criticises the way community council funding is calculated and raises the length of time taken for road repairs.
A council spokesman said: We will consider the points raised and shall respond directly.”