COSLA CONFERENCE 2014
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 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
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?
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
19 & 20
September 2013
24 June 2013
29 August 2013
Support from
the Islands
Commission
First meeting
of the Island
Areas
Ministerial
Working
Group
25 July 2013
Scottish Govt.
‘Lerwick
Declaration’
and Ministerial
Working Group
Our Islands
Our Future
Conference
in Kirkwall
14 August 2013
UK Secretary
of State for
Scotland
invites
Islands
Leaders to
talk
“...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
17 February
2014
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
21 November
2013
Third
Meeting of
the Island
Areas
Ministerial
Working
Group
31 January
2014
Formal Talks
with Scottish
Labour – the
Leaders
meet with
Sarah Boyack
MSP and
David
Stewart MSP
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 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
Develop and implement Public Engagement
LOCAL
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
Scottish Government Discussions “CHINESE WALL”
Workplan
Our Islands Our Future Launch 17 June 2013
UK Government
Scottish
Government
Lerwick Declaration: 24 July 2013 – announcement of Island
Areas Ministerial Working Group
1st IAMWG
29.08.13
2nd IAMWG
29.10.13
3rd IAMWG
21.11.13
Crown Estate
Marine
Planning
Energy – Oil,
Gas &
Renewables
Island
Proofing
Enterprise
Responsibilities
Fishing
Aquaculture
Crown Estate
(return of
paper)
4th IAMWG
17.2.14
5th IAMWG
24. 05.14
6th IAMWG
24. 05.14
New Papers
Returning Papers
Act for the Islands
Ongoing research, briefing papers , lobbying & negotiation
Draft
Prospectus
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’ ).
Consideration of
offer by Islands
Councils
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 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
UK VOTE
7.05.15
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)
Ongoing research, briefing papers , lobbying & negotiation
Ongoing longer-term goals
Conversion of ‘’quick wins’
prior to September 20134
Identifying opportunity
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)
EUROPE
UK Government support to open doors into Europe
14 &
15.10.13
European
Opportunities
- Scotland
Office, FCO,
and Cabinet
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
Ongoing research, briefing papers , lobbying & negotiation
Negotiate and drive change
Ongoing research, briefing papers , lobbying & negotiation
SG VOTE
5.05.16
Campaign Area 1: Focus of Campaign
Greater Local Control of
Overall Marine Resources
Local Authority direction of
sea-bed resources
a
‘Resource Rights’ – e.g.
Aquaculture, sea water
resource rights
c
FOCUS
Key elements
• Crown Estate
• Sea bed / territorial –
ownership / use / investment
• Planning
• Environmental Issues
• Oil & Gas exploration
Key elements
• Sea bed ownership –
including minerals etc.
b
Renewable Energy
Key elements
• Renewable Obligation
Certificates
• Transmission Charges
1:
Area
Marine
Resources &
Energy
Growth
Obligation Certificates
Control of Inshore Fishing
Aquaculture
Aquaculture – costs, transport
Key elements
• Fishing Rights
• Territorial Waters
h
Oil & Gas
Marine tourism,
recreation, culture and
heritage
In progress: further phase
of work being developed
Environmental
management and
protection in the marine
area
e
Other Areas
SHEET 2
Campaign Area 1 Components
14 August 2013
Blue Economy
Key elements
• Marine Scotland – Marine planning
• Consent processes
f
Key elements
• Transmission charge parity
• Electricity infrastructure
parity
• Investment and legislation
• International North Sea
Power Grid
• Interconnector
g
Fisheries
Regional Government means
‘regional’ – EU principle re:
Energy (Article 170)
Marine Spatial Planning,
Marine Scotland – local control
(Article 5)
Crown Estate
Article 174
Key elements
• Blue Economy Rights
• Sea Fish Levy
• Inshore Fisheries – control & regulation
d
Campaign Areas 2 and 3: Focus of Campaign
a
An Act for the Islands
FOCUS
b
Article 174
2:
Area
Constitutional
Status &
Public Sector
Change
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
3:
Area
Economic
Drivers and
Island
Wellbeing
b
A Level Playing Field
c
An Islands Innovation
Zone
In progress: further phase
of work being developed
SHEET 3
Campaign Areas 2 and 3 Components
14 August 2013
Key elements
• Status embodied in legislation
• Local Act powers
• Competences
• Parliamentary boundaries
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
• 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
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
• 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
• Article 5 “Subsidiarity Principle”
DRAFT Work Plan: Ministerial Working Group – input from the Campaign Areas
Crown Estate and
Marine Resource
Management
Aug.
Sept.
1
Economic Drivers,
Innovation Zones,
Funding and Revenue,
Role of HIE, Article 170
Principles (Trans
European Networks –
Transport)
Energy Growth (Oil, Gas,
Renewables), Marine
Planning and Article 170
Principles (Trans European
Networks – Energy
Infrastructure)
Oct.
2
Nov.
Dec.
3
2013
Local Authority
direction of sea-bed
resources
a
d
g
Marine Spatial Planning,
Marine Scotland – local
control
(Article 5)
Crown Estate
Article 174
Regional Government
means ‘regional’ – EU
principle re: Energy
(Article 170)
Control of Inshore
Fishing
h
f
Blue Economy
Article 174
Subsidiarity in our
own area
Greater Subsidiarity
Feb.
4
2.
Mar.
Apr.
5
Article 174
b
May.
The Overall
Package – what
it now looks like
and tying up the
loose ends
The Final Report
June.
6
d
Subsidiarity in our
own area
f
a
b
Article 174
c
b
Democracy
“A New Body”
c
Funding, Revenue,
Sustainability
d
Democracy
“A New Body”
f
d
a
e
Subsidiarity in our own
area
Input from all Campaign
Areas / all subject areas
Article 174
Funding, Revenue,
Sustainability
Proportionality, Specific
Measures for Islands,
The ‘neighbour
authorities’ principle
An Act for the Islands
Environmental
management and
protection in the
marine area
d
d
e
a
Marine tourism,
recreation, culture and
heritage
Article 174
b
Greater Subsidiarity
b
A Level Playing Field
f
c
a
Funding, Revenue,
Sustainability
Aquaculture – costs,
transport
b
Funding, Revenue,
Sustainability
Oil & Gas
Jan.
1.
Constitutional Status and
Public Sector Change, EU
Relationship and
Representation
2014
‘Resource Rights’ – e.g. c
Aquaculture, sea
water resource rights
Marine Spatial
Planning,
Marine Scotland –
local control
(Article 5)
Crown Estate
Article 174
Island Wellbeing, Culture
and Level Playing Field,
Article 174, Article 170
Principles (TransEuropean Networks –
Communications)
An Islands Innovation
Zone
Funding, Revenue,
Sustainability
e
Proportionality,
Specific Measures for
Islands, The
‘neighbour authorities’
principle
f
Subsidiarity in our
own area
Proportionality,
Specific Measures for
Islands, The
‘neighbour authorities’
principle
Subsidiarity in our
own area
e
f
Greater Subsidiarity
a
b
Greater Subsidiarity
c
A Level Playing Field
A Level Playing Field
b
An Islands Innovation
Zone
Note: These are the Subject Areas from which the
‘key elements’ are drawn for each meeting
SHEET 4
Work Plan – input from Campaign Areas (Subject Areas)
14 August 2013
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
Crown Estate –
looking to ensure
revenues remain
on the islands
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