The number of people bidding to become members of community councils operating in Barrhead, Neilston and Uplawmoor is sufficient for the groups to be re-established in the next few weeks.

However, elsewhere in the authority there has been such a poor response that the deadline for nominations has been extended for another six months.

The first call for potential new members saw Barrhead, Busby, Neilston, Thornliebank and Uplawmoor attract enough people to be able to proceed.

However, out of the 11 proposed community councils, six have failed to gather enough support to re-form.

The council is struggling to attract volunteers in Clarkston, Broom, Kirkhill and Mearnskirk, Netherlee and Stamperland, Eaglesham and Waterfoot, Giffnock, Crookfur, Greenfarm and Mearns Village.

The apparent lack of interest raises questions over the viability of the new system introduced by East Renfrewshire Council (ERC) earlier this year.

One of the key changes in the so-called Scheme of Establishment stipulated a requirement that chairs can only stand for 12 months — meaning an end to the previous arrangements where some members could occupy positions for many years.

Critics of the new set-up have raised concerns about committed and experienced members, who give their time for free, having to leave their positions. While others are convinced the move undermines democracy by weakening community engagement with the political process.

Laura Stevens, from the East Renfrewshire branch of the Scottish Greens, said: “East Renfrewshire Greens endorses the introduction of more community involvement in local government, but not on the terms offered by ERC.

“By dissolving community councils halfway through an elected term, ERC have left over half of East Renfrewshire’s population with no access to a community council and the support and advice they can offer.

“Given that the new procedure for dealing with complaints against community councillors seem to favour the council’s interests over the good of the community, it is tempting to speculate as to the motives behind this move.

“Whatever the truth, the lack of engagement with this new scheme from across East Ren highlights how little faith there is in our local government.” It’s understood several long-standing members are expected to return to the fold, as well as residents who have never been involved with community councils before.

In a bid to ensure enough volunteers come forward to apply for as yet under-nominated organisations, the authority has extended the deadline for a further six months.

Even so, ERC’s convener for community safety and community services, Cllr Mary Montague, is confident the changes are for the better.

She said: “A huge thank you, congratulations and welcome to everyone who has been nominated by their local neighbourhood to serve on our community councils. You are all now part of an exciting new era and will play an important role to better our communities.

“Our campaign for people who want to help shape their community has attracted interest from some new members. It means that Barrhead, Busby, Neilston, Thornliebank and Uplawmoor will be represented by people who have a real passion to make a difference to the community they live in.

“On behalf of myself and my colleague councillors we are looking forward to working with them. There will be further opportunities for people from other areas to become a community representative in the coming weeks and months.” ERC says it is committed to having a full quota of vibrant community councils and supporting all eleven community councils to be re-established.

The five returning community councils will be re-established in the coming weeks, when their monthly meetings will resume. The assets of community councils that are unable to be re-established following the initial round of nominations will be held in trust.

A council spokeswoman said: “We will be in touch with all nominees in community councils which have not yet been established and we will work with them to attract additional nominees with a view to re-establishing each community council as soon as we can.”