Outraged members of the local statutory bodies say that their independence has been eroded.

Under a new scheme governing community councils (CCs) possible members must be approved by the local authority and elected by a vote.

And now the existing CCs are set to be dissolved ahead of the new scheme coming in to force, which also bring with it a limit on how long chairmen or women can remain in the seat.

Protesters claimed that “no one likes” the scheme and that it “deliberately and wilfully” seeks to remove independence from community councils.

However ERC disputed this, saying that the views of “more than a 1,000” residents were taken into account and that the consultation was well publicised.

Councillors will meet for a special decision on Wednesday at ERC’s full council in front of a full public gallery.

Newton Mearns community council chairman David Jesner said: “The wish to implement clause which stipulates that chairmen or women can only bear office for a maximum of two years.

“First of all it is very difficult to get someone to take on the role and responsibility, and second of all some of these people have been in office for years, even decades.

“ERC would also be able to determine whether or not candidates are suitable to stand as a councillor, that’s like saying to an election candidate that you can’t stand because we don’t like you.

“They also wish to implement a disciplinary scheme, with three elected ERC councillors and two community councillors on it for community councils.

“And it will have a quorum of three, meaning they can hold these meetings at any time when a community councillor might not be available.” The issue was also set to be discussed at last night’s (Tuesday) meeting of Neilston Community Council.

ERC previously said in a statement: “There has been an extensive, transparent and well publicised consultation around this review over a total of 29 weeks. The views of more than 1,000 residents and community council members have received and documented.

“The views expressed in this recent communication have not featured within the formal consultation.”