• 12 January 2026
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Democracy for Aberdeenshire

Democracy for Aberdeenshire is a civic platform created to support transparent, accountable decision-making in local government across defined council areas. It focuses on how major infrastructure and development decisions are taken, particularly where delegated powers are used instead of full council debate. The platform exists to ensure that decisions with long-term and far-reaching impacts on communities are made openly, properly scrutinised, and determined by elected councillors in public session.

Why democratic process matters

Across Scotland, major infrastructure proposals have increasingly been progressed through delegated decision-making, limiting public visibility and reducing the role of elected members. Democracy for Aberdeenshire challenges this approach by reinforcing a simple democratic principle: decisions of significant scale and consequence should be debated and decided by the full council, in public, with councillors taking visible responsibility for the outcomes.

The platform highlights the importance of transparency, accountability, and procedural fairness in local governance. Where communities are affected by large-scale developments, they are entitled to see how decisions are made, who makes them, and on what basis.

How residents can engage

Residents living within the Aberdeenshire Council, Moray Council, and Highland Council areas can use this platform to engage directly with their councillors on matters of governance, democratic process, and accountability. Messages submitted through the platform are sent to councillors in the relevant council area only, ensuring that correspondence is accurate, appropriate, and grounded in the correct local decision-making framework.

Councillors do not all receive the same message. The content is tailored to reflect the circumstances and decisions within each authority.

For councillors in the Highlands and Moray, messages acknowledge and thank those elected members who ensured that major infrastructure proposals were brought before the full council rather than approved through delegated powers. These communications recognise the importance of open debate, public scrutiny, and democratic responsibility, and seek confirmation that this commitment to transparent decision-making will continue in future.

For Aberdeenshire councillors, messages focus on specific planning concerns within Aberdeenshire, including the handling of major energy infrastructure proposals. They raise substantive issues around need, proportionality, planning policy compliance, environmental and community impacts, cumulative development pressures, and the consequences of previous decisions taken under delegated powers. These communications emphasise the responsibility of councillors to exercise independent judgement in the public interest when faced with developments of significant and lasting impact.

Support beyond council boundaries

For those who live outside the Aberdeenshire, Moray, or Highland Council areas, continued support is genuinely appreciated. While the platform is currently focused on these authorities, supporters are encouraged to share the link with family members, friends, or colleagues who live within the relevant council areas and may wish to engage directly with their local representatives.

Democracy is strengthened when people are informed, engaged, and willing to stand up for transparent decision-making. Democracy for Aberdeenshire exists to help make that engagement clear, constructive, and effective at a local level.

Visit the platform

Democracy for Aberdeenshire is hosted on the ObjectNow platform and is publicly accessible to all. Residents within the Aberdeenshire Council, Moray Council, and Highland Council areas are encouraged to visit the site, read more about the issues, and take part in supporting transparent and accountable local decision-making.

You can access the platform directly at:
https://democracyforaberdeen.object.now

If you do not live within these council areas, your support is still valued. Sharing the link with family members, friends, or colleagues who do live in the relevant areas helps extend awareness and strengthens democratic engagement where it matters most.