A third of public petitions presented to Highland Council had to be rejected.
The local authority set up a petitions procedure two years ago to allow appeals from the public to be formally considered by elected members.
Since then, 14 petitions have been submitted to the council, covering subjects from parking places, windfarms and service points.
However, a report prepared for this week’s audit and scrutiny committee reveals that five were not accepted.
In some cases, including a campaign to enforce a 20mph speed limit in Invergordon, this was because the issue had already been decided by the council.
Another rejected on the same grounds was a call to rescind the council’s choice for the route of the Inverness West Link Road.
Others protesting against a windfarm at Portmahomack and the removal of parking at Huntly Street in Inverness were rejected because they involved the determination of a planning or licensing matter.
Of the nine accepted by the council, all but one concerned the proposed closure of service points across the Highlands.
Groups from Dornoch, Fort Augustus, Muir of Ord, Kinlochleven, Broadford, Kyle and Gairloch all submitted documents bearing the signatures of hundreds of people.
The petitions were presented to the council at the start of their meeting considering service points in March last year.
A review of the public counters system has recommended shutting some facilities and cutting hours at others.
In her report, depute chief executive Michelle Morris says: “The council has been made aware of individuals promoting online petitions through social media to campaign in respect of issues such as study leave.
“However, those involved have chosen not to take advantage of the council’s procedure to bring the issue to the attention formally of members.
“It is therefore proposed that a review is undertaken with the corporate communications team to consider more effective promotion of the petitions process, including links to the council’s social media sites.”