Island councils taking campaign forward with new government

Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles councils are seeking early meetings with the new secretary of state for Scotland to discuss the Our Islands Our Future (OIOF) campaign.

They are also seeking reassurances on the commitments of the previous Government on the campaign, which is calling for more decision-making powers for island communities.

Orkney Islands Council convener, Councillor Steven Heddle, said: “We’re keen to quickly build on the progress made with the last UK Government in terms of ensuring the islands have a voice and have our perspectives considered and accounted for as matter of course.

“This is across a whole range of reserved issues, but notably with respect to our ambitions for the ultimate transfer of the powers and revenues of the Crown Estate to the islands councils, as recommended by the Smith Commission following our representations.

“The new government has undertaken to implement the Smith recommendations in full and we are clearly keen to see this happen.”