Transcript A Perspective of the Islands Councils
C O S L A C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 1 4
DIFFER ENTIAL DEVOLUTION A perspective of the Islands Councils
Dr Steven Heddle Leader, Orkney Islands Council
Our premise
• One size does not fit all • Nor should it – Article 174 – Montgomery – Localism – Lerwick Declaration – a response to our campaign
Demonstrably things are different in the Islands
• Geography • Range of issues • and a range of issues…
Range of Services
Harbour Authority
Range of Services
Nine Inter-Islands Ferries – serving our Island Communities 300,000 plus passengers a year 3,000,000 litres of fuel 14 MWh ‘round trip’ fuel burn
Range of Services
Renewables “At no other site in the world would you find such an array of tidal energy devices than at the quay at Hatson” Eileen Linklater – Client Relationship Manager at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC)
Range of Services
Oil Port
Range of services
Internal Air Services and Airfields Eday North Ronaldsay Papa Westray Sanday Stronsay Westray
And culturally as well
In reality local government has been different here
• Always unitary authorities since 1974 • Limited extra powers – Orkney County Council Act – Zetland County Council Act – Shetland Shellfish Act
W e’ve seen too much centralisation over time
• Tax • Customs • Coastguard • Lighthouse Board • Local Enterprise Control • Police and Fire • What next?
What else are we planning to do?
We have a once in a lifetime opportunity to establish the place of the islands in this country, and
we would not be forgiven if we missed this opportunity
.
A COMBINED VOICE
17 June 2013
Launch of Our Islands Our Future
24 June 2013
Support from the Islands Commission
25 July 2013
Scottish Govt. ‘Lerwick Declaration’ and Ministerial Working Group
14 August 2013
UK Secretary of State for Scotland invites Islands Leaders to talk
29 August 2013
First meeting of the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group
19 & 20 September 2013
Our Islands Our Future Conference in Kirkwall “...my strongest feeling leaving Orkney was a strong sense of pride that our local politicians had stood together for their own and each other’s communities” An Island delegate
14 & 15 October 2013
Westminster Discussions – Secretary of State for Scotland and UK Ministers
29 October 2013
Second Meeting of the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group
14 November 2013
Three Leaders named Herald’s Scottish Local Politician of the Year
29 November 2013
Stornoway Discussions – Secretary of State for Scotland
31 January 2014
Formal Talks with Scottish Labour – the Leaders meet with Sarah Boyack MSP and David Stewart MSP
17 February 2014
Fourth Meeting of the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group
21 November 2013
Third Meeting of the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group “These islands have been quick off the mark. I like this initiative. It represents a lesson for other parts of Scotland.” Professor James Mitchell University of Edinburgh
DRAFT PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT – WORK STREAMS GOING INTO 2014
June – December 2013 2014 2015 - 2016
Local Media interviews / press releases / key achievements Recognisable Branding and Logos
Develop and implement Public Engagement
Updates to Partners at Community Planning Partnership Meetings Our Islands-Our Future Conference Kirkwall 19 & 20 th September 2013 Elected Member / Staff Newsletter Scottish Government Discussions “CHINESE WALL” Lerwick Declaration: 24 July 2013 – announcement of Island Areas Ministerial Working Group Workplan 1 st IAMWG 29.08.13
Crown Estate 2 nd IAMWG 29.10.13
Marine Planning Energy – Oil, Gas & Renewables Island Proofing 3rd IAMWG 21.11.13
Enterprise Responsibilities Fishing Aquaculture Crown Estate (return of paper) 4th IAMWG 17.2.14
New Papers Returning Papers Ongoing research, briefing papers , lobbying & negotiation Act for the Islands 5th IAMWG 24. 05.14
6th IAMWG 24. 05.14
Draft Prospectus Consideration of offer by Islands Councils Ongoing research, briefing papers , lobbying & negotiation
Purdah 21.08.14
VOTE 18.09.14
Conversion Work (YES VOTE) for Prospectus promises or detailed negotiation to convert areas related to devolved matters (NO VOTE) (based on principle of ‘no reason to refuse’ ).
Ongoing research, briefing papers , lobbying & negotiation
Develop discussions and secondary work streams with other major political parties (awareness of the Scottish Parliament Elections in May 2016)
UK Government Discussions “CHINESE WALL” 14 & 15.10.13
Meetings with the UK Government / Scotland Office 29.11.13
Meetings with the Scotland Office – planning Programme Management Activity – planning ‘opportunity’ & ‘quick wins’ Work Streams: Public Sector Change, Ofgem, Energy, Crown Estate, Europe New Work Streams: e.g. Innovation, Trade and Industry (UKTI) Conversion of ‘’quick wins’ prior to September 20134 Ongoing longer-term goals Identifying opportunity
UK VOTE 7.05.15
SG VOTE 5.05.16
Ongoing research, briefing papers , lobbying & negotiation Ongoing research, briefing papers , lobbying & negotiation
Develop discussions and secondary work streams with other major political parties (awareness of the UK Parliament Elections in May 2015)
14 & 15.10.13
European Opportunities - Scotland Office, FCO, and Cabinet Office UK Government support to open doors into Europe Potential meetings in Brussels: • Support for the Principles – Articles 5, 170 and 174 • • Support for EU Charter of Local Self Government (implementation) Representation in Europe • Role in influencing policy Ongoing research, briefing papers , lobbying & negotiation Negotiate and drive change Ongoing research, briefing papers , lobbying & negotiation
Campaign Area 1: Focus of Campaign
FOCUS Area 1: Marine Resources & Energy Growth Greater Local Control of Overall Marine Resources Renewable Energy Local Authority direction of sea-bed resources
a
‘Resource Rights’ – e.g. Aquaculture, sea water resource rights
• • • Key elements • Crown Estate • Sea bed / territorial – ownership / use / investment Planning Environmental Issues Oil & Gas exploration Key elements • Sea bed ownership – including minerals etc.
Obligation Certificates
Key elements • • Renewable Obligation Certificates Transmission Charges b
Regional Government means ‘regional’ – EU principle re: Energy (Article 170)
f • • Key elements • Transmission charge parity • Electricity infrastructure parity Investment and legislation International North Sea • Power Grid Interconnector c
Marine Spatial Planning, Marine Scotland – local control (Article 5) Crown Estate Article 174
Key elements • Marine Scotland – Marine planning • Consent processes
Fisheries Aquaculture Control of Inshore Fishing Aquaculture – costs, transport
h g Key elements • Fishing Rights • Territorial Waters • • Sea Fish Levy Inshore Fisheries – control & regulation d
Oil & Gas Marine tourism, recreation, culture and heritage Environmental management and protection in the marine area Other Areas
In progress: further phase of work being developed
Blue Economy
e Key elements • Blue Economy Rights SHEET 2 Campaign Area 1 Components 14 August 2013
Campaign Areas 2 and 3: Focus of Campaign
FOCUS Area 2: Constitutional Status & Public Sector Change An Act for the Islands Article 174
c
Democracy “A New Body”
d
Funding, Revenue, Sustainability Proportionality, Specific Measures for Islands, The
e
‘neighbour authorities’ principle
f
Subsidiarity in our own area
a Key elements • Status embodied in legislation b • • Local Act powers Competences Key elements • Island Article 174 status • Recognition at Government Level (Art. 174) Key elements • Public sector structures • • Local Govt. as regional tier of government EU relationship/representation • • Public Service Reform Local efficiency Key elements • • Key elements • State Aid • • Taxation and revenues Sea-bed rights and revenues Marine Planning Key elements Article 5 “Subsidiarity Principle” • • • • • • Funding Settlement Ship Registry Fishing Boat Licensing Land Based Planning ‘Island Proofing’ Insularity / Rural Deprivation • Parliamentary boundaries • Access to EU funding and mechanisms for distribution • Right of Appeal
Area 3: Economic Drivers and Island Wellbeing Greater Subsidiarity A Level Playing Field
a Key elements • Article 5 • Crown Estate • Planning b • • • • Public Service reform Enterprise responsibilities European Programmes and Funding Transport Bodies Key elements • Legislative protection e.g. Island Strike Price • Universal Service – postal • Next Generation Mobile Services • • • • Universal Broadband Services Road Equivalent Tariff Air Discount Scheme Article 170
An Islands Innovation Zone
c Key elements • Islands Innovation Zone • Levy on energy production (Island retention) • Community Benefit • • Air Passenger Duty exemption Aggregate Levy
In progress: further phase of work being developed
• • • Island Ferry Services Local Taxes / Revenue Tax levies SHEET 3 Campaign Areas 2 and 3 Components 14 August 2013
DRAFT Work Plan: Ministerial Working Group – input from the Campaign Areas
2013 Aug .
1
Crown Estate and Marine Resource Management
Sept .
Oct.
Energy Growth (Oil, Gas, Renewables), Marine Planning and Article 170 Principles (Trans European Networks – Energy Infrastructure)
2 Nov .
3
Economic Drivers, Innovation Zones, Funding and Revenue, Role of HIE, Article 170 Principles (Trans European Networks – Transport)
Dec.
2014 Jan.
Island Wellbeing, Culture and Level Playing Field, Article 174, Article 170 Principles (Trans European Networks – Communications)
Feb .
4 Mar.
5
Constitutional Status and Public Sector Change, EU Relationship and Representation
Apr.
May.
1.
2.
The Overall Package – what it now looks like and tying up the loose ends The Final Report
June .
6 Local Authority direction of sea-bed resources
a
‘Resource Rights’ – e.g. Aquaculture, sea water resource rights
c d
Marine Spatial Planning, Marine Scotland – local control (Article 5) Crown Estate Article 174 Oil & Gas Blue Economy Article 174
d
Funding, Revenue, Sustainability Subsidiarity in our own area
f a
Greater Subsidiarity
e b
Marine Spatial Planning, Marine Scotland – local control (Article 5) Crown Estate Article 174
f
Regional Government means ‘regional’ – EU principle re: Energy (Article 170)
b
Article 174
d
Funding, Revenue, Sustainability Proportionality, Specific Measures for Islands, The ‘neighbour authorities’ principle
e
Subsidiarity in our own area
f a
Greater Subsidiarity
b
A Level Playing Field
c
An Islands Innovation Zone
g
Control of Inshore Fishing Aquaculture – costs, transport
h b
Article 174
d
Funding, Revenue, Sustainability
f
Subsidiarity in our own area
a
Greater Subsidiarity
b
A Level Playing Field An Islands Innovation Zone
c SHEET 4 Work Plan – input from Campaign Areas (Subject Areas) 14 August 2013
Marine tourism, recreation, culture and heritage Environmental management and protection in the marine area
b
Article 174
c
Democracy “A New Body”
d
Funding, Revenue, Sustainability Proportionality, Specific Measures for Islands, The ‘neighbour authorities’ principle
e f
Subsidiarity in our own area
a
Greater Subsidiarity
b
A Level Playing Field
a
An Act for the Islands
b
Article 174
c
Democracy “A New Body”
d
Funding, Revenue, Sustainability Proportionality, Specific Measures for Islands, The ‘neighbour authorities’ principle
e f
Subsidiarity in our own area Input from all Campaign Areas / all subject areas
Note: These are the Subject Areas from which the ‘key elements’ are drawn for each meeting
Crown Estate – looking to ensure revenues remain on the islands Oil & Gas – community benefit for the Islands Renewables – community benefit and supporting the sector Community Benefit – to support services, to support communities Marine Planning – more local influence and control “Island Proofing” – making sure common sense prevails Economic Drivers and Enterprise – business support and jobs Fisheries, Agriculture, Crofting – support for our traditional industries Aquaculture – community benefit for the Islands Islands Innovation Zone – attracting funding and new businesses Transport – a fair deal
Tourism – supporting and growing a key sector Engineering and Construction – levelling the playing field Digital Connectivity – faster, more, better coverage Special Status in Europe Single Public Authority – more efficient, local delivery Legal & Constitutional Status – ensure we have a Council in the future Funding Settlement and Revenues – money to run our services State Aid – recognising the difficulties our Islands face Land Based Planning – local decision making and the right of appeal Culture and Creative Industries – recognising just what is so special …and much, much more …
Five main themes
• Local control and local decision making • Community Benefit • Island Proofing • Better representation and a closer working with Europe • Constitutional Status and Public Sector Change
Our asks to government are:
• Reasonable and well founded • Not unusual when you consider other islands
When does this come to fruition?
• April/May 2014 for UK Gov Concordat • June 2014 for SG prospectus • Ongoing with Labour for manifesto
To what extent will our dreams be realised?
• Dependent on commitment and principles of government • Dependent on referendum • Dependent on next Scottish Government – Meanwhile commitment to Act for Islands and White Paper commitments