Information Bulletin
01 June 2006
Call for further evidence on Crofting Bill
In its latest twists and turns, the saga of the proposed new bill on crofting has settled briefly with the Environment and Rural Affairs Committee seeking evidence on the new idea of “proper occupier”. This definition would replace the current definition of owner occupier. This really only arose as a commonplace after the 1976 act introduced the right for tenants to buy their crofts whether the landlord wanted to sell or not. It gave the Crofters Commission a bit of a head ache, with these owner occupiers not really being catered for in the legislation, and ending up being defined as “landlords of a vacant croft”. Is everyone keeping up?
In response to the call for evidence, Shetland Islands Council Development Chairman Drew Ratter said today:
“I welcome the chance for someone from the council to give evidence again. The committee seemed to me to get to grips well with some of the previous rather more complex issues. The proper occupier proposal seems to me simple and straight forward, and one which will certainly aid us here in Shetland.
In its earlier evidence, Shetland Islands Council made the point strongly that the council favoured parity between tenants and owner occupiers, something which has not existed in the past. The introduction of the proper occupier definition for all crofters does a lot to make that happen
Shetland Islands Council, through evidence given previously by Mr Ratter supports the bill. Mr Ratter expressed his hope that the Bill would not be derailed by criticism, especially as much of the criticism seems “a trifle ill informed”.
The steering group formed by SIC to consider the creation of new crofts in Shetland has concluded that without the Crofting Bill much will be lost. It will not be possible to use new crofts as a means to bring fresh folk and fresh hope to some of the more remote areas of the islands as well as helping young people within the community find much desired crofts.
Mr Ratter concluded: “I have always said we must be pragmatic here, taking what benefit we can from this legislation. There are two final points I would make. First this does not have to be the last crofting bill which the Scottish Parliament ever considers, and second, growing out of that, I hope when the next one comes forward, we will have used the opportunities offered by this one, to build a optimistic and forward looking crofting community which will engage with that consultation.”
Ends……….