But the BBC survey has revealed areas where the system is working well.
South Lanarkshire Council highlighted a transport network for the elderly and disabled run by East Kilbride Community Council.
And Glasgow City Council pointed to a group of four community councils who are collaborating to regenerate the Queens Park Arena.
However, national leadership of Scotland's community councils is in doubt after the ASCC recently announced it would be closing in April 2012.
The charity decided to fold when the Scottish government refused a request to double the size of its grant.
Local Government Minister Aileen Campbell said a working group on the future of community councils would be announced soon.
"They're an important body within the governance of our country and we need to support them and make sure they're the best that they can be," she said.
"We just need to find out what ways we can best support community councils to make sure that they can flourish and to make sure that folk know that these are good things to get involved with."
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