Post on 24-Dec-2015
C O S L A C O N F E R E N C E 2 0 1 4
DIFFERENTIAL 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 ServicesHarbour Authority
Range of Services
300,000 plus passengers a year3,000,000 litres of fuel14 MWh ‘round trip’ fuel burn
Nine Inter-Islands Ferries – serving our Island Communities
Range of ServicesRenewables
“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 ServicesOil Port
Range of servicesInternal Air Services and Airfields
EdayNorth RonaldsayPapa WestraySandayStronsayWestray
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
We’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?
OrkneyShetland Western Isles
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 & 20September 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
Stornoway Discussions – Secretary of State for Scotland29 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
21 November 2013
ThirdMeeting of the Island Areas Ministerial Working Group
29 November2013
Westminster Discussions – Secretary of State for Scotland and UK Ministers Formal Talks
with Scottish Labour – the Leaders meet with Sarah Boyack MSP and David Stewart MSP
31 January2014
17 February 2014
Fourth 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 MitchellUniversity of Edinburgh
PROGRAMME MANAGEMENT – WORK STREAMS GOING INTO 2014
June – December 2013 2014 2015 - 2016
LOCA
LSc
ottish
G
over
nmen
tU
K G
over
nmen
tEU
ROPE
Local Media interviews / press releases / key achievements
Recognisable Branding and Logos
Updates to Partners at Community Planning Partnership Meetings
Our Islands-Our Future Conference Kirkwall 19 & 20th September 2013
Elected Member / Staff Newsletter
Lerwick Declaration: 24 July 2013 – announcement of Island Areas Ministerial Working Group
1st IAMWG 29.08.13Crown Estate
2nd IAMWG 29.10.13Marine PlanningEnergy – Oil, Gas & RenewablesIsland Proofing
3rd IAMWG 21.11.13Enterprise ResponsibilitiesFishingAquacultureCrown Estate (return of paper)
4th IAMWG 17.2.14
5th IAMWG 24. 05.14
6th IAMWG 24. 05.14 Draft
Prospectus
Workplan
VOTE18.09.14
Purdah21.08.14
New Papers
Returning Papers
Ongoing research, briefing papers , lobbying & negotiationOngoing research, briefing papers , lobbying & negotiation
Consideration of offer by Islands Councils
Scottish Government Discussions “CHINESE WALL”
UK Government Discussions “CHINESE WALL”
DRAFT
Develop and implement Public Engagement
Act for the Islands
Programme Management Activity – planning ‘opportunity’ & ‘quick wins’
Work Streams: Public Sector Change, Ofgem, Energy, Crown Estate, Europe
29.11.13Meetings with the Scotland Office – planning
UK Government support to open doors into Europe
New Work Streams: e.g. Innovation, Trade and Industry (UKTI)
Conversion of ‘’quick wins’ prior to September 20134
SG VOTE5.05.16
14 & 15.10.13Meetings with the UK Government / Scotland Office
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
UK VOTE7.05.15
Our
Isla
nds
Our
Fut
ure
Laun
ch 1
7 Ju
ne 2
013
14 & 15.10.13European Opportunities - Scotland Office, FCO, and Cabinet Office
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
Ongoing longer-term goals
Identifying opportunity
Negotiate and drive change
Develop discussions and secondary work streams with other major political parties (awareness of the Scottish Parliament Elections in May 2016)
Develop discussions and secondary work streams with other major political parties (awareness of the UK Parliament Elections in May 2015)
Ongoing research, briefing papers , lobbying & negotiation Ongoing research, briefing papers , lobbying & negotiation
Ongoing research, briefing papers , lobbying & negotiation Ongoing research, briefing papers , lobbying & negotiation
Area 1: Marine Resources & Energy Growth
Local Authority direction of sea-bed resources
Greater Local Control of Overall Marine Resources
Renewable Energy
Fisheries
Aquaculture
Oil & Gas
Marine tourism, recreation, culture and heritage
Environmental management and protection in the marine area
Other Areas
‘Resource Rights’ – e.g. Aquaculture, sea water resource rights
Marine Spatial Planning, Marine Scotland – local control(Article 5)Crown EstateArticle 174
Obligation CertificatesRegional Government means ‘regional’ – EU principle re: Energy (Article 170)
Control of Inshore Fishing
Blue Economy
Key elements• Crown Estate• Sea bed / territorial –
ownership / use / investment• Planning • Environmental Issues• Oil & Gas exploration
Key elements• Sea bed ownership –
including minerals etc. Key elements• Marine Scotland – Marine planning• Consent processes
Key elements• Renewable Obligation
Certificates• Transmission Charges
Key elements• Transmission charge
parity• Electricity infrastructure
parity• Investment and legislation• International North Sea
Power Grid• Interconnector
Key elements• Fishing Rights• Territorial Waters
• Sea Fish Levy• Inshore Fisheries – control &
regulation
Key elements• Blue Economy Rights
Aquaculture – costs, transport
FOCUS
b
a c d
f
g
h
e
In progress: further phase of work being developed
Campaign Area 1: Focus of Campaign
Campaign Area 1 Components14 August 2013
SHEET 2
Area 2: Constitutional Status & Public Sector Change
Area 3: Economic Drivers and Island Wellbeing
An Act for the Islands
Article 174
Democracy“A New Body”
Funding, Revenue, Sustainability
Proportionality, Specific Measures for Islands, The ‘neighbour authorities’ principle
Greater Subsidiarity
A Level Playing Field
An Islands Innovation Zone
Key elements• Status embodied in legislation
• Local Act powers• Competences
• Parliamentary boundaries
In progress: further phase of work being developed
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
Key elements• Islands Innovation Zone• Levy on energy production (Island
retention)
• Community Benefit• Air Passenger Duty exemption• Aggregate Levy
Key elements• Island Article 174 status• Recognition at Government Level (Art. 174)
• Local Govt. as regional tier of government• EU relationship/representation
• Access to EU funding and mechanisms for distribution
Key elements• Public sector structures
• Public Service Reform• Local efficiency
Key elements• Article 5• Crown Estate• Planning
• Public Service reform• Enterprise responsibilities• European Programmes and Funding• Transport Bodies
• Island Ferry Services• Local Taxes / Revenue• Tax levies
Key elements• Taxation and revenues• Sea-bed rights and revenues
• Funding Settlement• Ship Registry• Fishing Boat Licensing
Key elements• State Aid• Marine Planning
• Land Based Planning• ‘Island Proofing’• Insularity / Rural Deprivation
• Right of Appeal
Subsidiarity in our own area
Key elements• Article 5 “Subsidiarity Principle”
FOCUS
a
b
c
d
e
f
a
b
c
Campaign Areas 2 and 3: Focus of Campaign
Campaign Areas 2 and 3 Components14 August 2013
SHEET 3
2013
Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June.
2014
Crown Estate and Marine Resource Management
Energy Growth (Oil, Gas, Renewables), Marine Planning and Article 170 Principles (Trans European Networks – Energy Infrastructure)
Economic Drivers, Innovation Zones, Funding and Revenue, Role of HIE, Article 170 Principles (Trans European Networks – Transport)
Island Wellbeing, Culture and Level Playing Field, Article 174, Article 170 Principles (Trans-European Networks – Communications)
Constitutional Status and Public Sector Change, EU Relationship and Representation
1. The Overall Package – what it now looks like and tying up the loose ends
2. The Final Report
DRAFT Work Plan: Ministerial Working Group – input from the Campaign Areas
Local Authority direction of sea-bed resources
a
‘Resource Rights’ – e.g. Aquaculture, sea water resource rights
c
Marine Spatial Planning, Marine Scotland – local control(Article 5)Crown EstateArticle 174
d
Oil & Gas
Blue Economy
e
Article 174
Funding, Revenue, Sustainability
Subsidiarity in our own area
b
d
f
Greater Subsidiarity
a
Marine Spatial Planning, Marine Scotland – local control(Article 5)Crown EstateArticle 174
Regional Government means ‘regional’ – EU principle re: Energy (Article 170)
Article 174
Funding, Revenue, Sustainability
Subsidiarity in our own area
Proportionality, Specific Measures for Islands, The ‘neighbour authorities’ principle
Greater Subsidiarity
A Level Playing Field
An Islands Innovation Zone
1
f
b
d
f
e
a
b
c
Article 174
Funding, Revenue, Sustainability
Subsidiarity in our own area
b
d
f
Greater Subsidiarity
A Level Playing Field
An Islands Innovation Zone
a
b
c
Control of Inshore Fishing
Aquaculture – costs, transport
g
h
Marine tourism, recreation, culture and heritage
Environmental management and protection in the marine area
Article 174
Funding, Revenue, Sustainability
Subsidiarity in our own area
Proportionality, Specific Measures for Islands, The ‘neighbour authorities’ principle
b
f
e
Democracy“A New Body”
c
Greater Subsidiarity
A Level Playing Field
a
b
d
An Act for the Islandsa
Article 174
Funding, Revenue, Sustainability
Subsidiarity in our own area
Proportionality, Specific Measures for Islands, The ‘neighbour authorities’ principle
b
f
e
Democracy“A New Body”
c
d
Input from all Campaign Areas / all subject areas
Work Plan – input from Campaign Areas (Subject Areas)14 August 2013
SHEET 4
Note: These are the Subject Areas from which the ‘key elements’ are drawn for each meeting
2 3 4 5 6
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
To what extent will our dreams be realised?
Ask us in October – we’re not going away
We understand what our Islands need to thrive
Give us the tools to do it ourselves