Islanders asked about extra powers for Comhairle 21/6/13
A consultation has been launched to seek islanders views on Comhairle nan Eilean
Siar gaining extra powers.
It follows the launch of the ‘Our Islands - Our Future’ campaign where Orkney, Shetland
and Western Isles Councils jointly see a stronger voice for the island councils following
the independence referendum in 2014.
They are now working closely together to identify shared opportunities and challenges,
including the possibility of additional powers and resources such as:
- Control of the sea bed around the islands, allowing revenues currently paid to the
Crown Estate to be channelled into local needs.
- New grid connections to the Scottish mainland to allow world class wave, tidal and
wind energy resources to generate maximum benefits for the islands.
- New financial arrangements to allow the islands to benefit more directly from the
harvesting of local resources, including renewable energy and fisheries.
- Clear recognition of the status of the three island groups in a new Scottish Constitutional
Settlement and within the European Governance Framework.
The campaign will include a major conference to be staged in Orkney on 19 and 20
September.
Members of the public who wish to make their views known can email their thoughts
to ourislands@orkney.gov.uk or write to ‘Our Islands – Our Future’, Communications
Office, Orkney Islands Council, School Place, Kirkwall KW15 1NY.
Further information on the campaign and extensive background reading are available
on the Council website www.orkney.gov.uk
Orkney Council Convener, Steven Heddle, said: “The reaction to the launch of the
‘Our Islands – Our Future’ campaign has been excellent, with interest shown not only
in Scotland but across the UK and even in an Australian daily newspaper.
“It’s an issue that appears to have captured the public’s imagination and we hope
that that momentum can be maintained right up to the 2014 Referendum.
“Work will continue behind the scenes, not only to organise the conference, but also
in building our case for the demands we are making. Any public views or support
that we can gather can only help to inform and strengthen this case and so I hope
that the public will get involved.”