Opportunities for crofting stakeholders to have their say
23 July 2012
Those with a stake in crofting have two opportunities to make comment on issues that will affect them. The Crofting Commission is seeking responses on its draft Policy. The Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 requires the Crofting Commission to prepare and submit to the Scottish Ministers a Plan setting out its policies on how it proposes to exercise its functions. The draft policy sets out how it will deal with the range of regulatory decisions it must make. The Commission is required to consult on this document before it is submitted to the Scottish Ministers.
Speaking at the launch of the consultation, Interim Crofting Commission Chair Sandy Cross said. “The next five years are a critical period for crofting. We will have to work hard, alongside other agencies and organisations, to ensure crofting can continue to play a significant role in supporting and growing many remote rural communities in Scotland. The Plan will establish the policies which the Commission will pursue and how these will be reflected in the Commission’s decisions, in line with legislation. We need to be consistent, transparent and fair in the way we regulate crofting.”
A copy of the Plan, along with the Respondent Information Form, can be found on the Crofting Commission website and the Form should be returned with any comments in order for the Commission to properly process it. Responses can be returned by email to plan@crofting.scotland.gov.uk or in hard copy to: The Chief Executive, Crofting Commission, Great Glen House, Leachkin Road, Inverness, IV3 8NW. The deadline for responses is 31st August 2012.
The Registers of Scotland have also opened a consultation on the Application Forms and Guidance for the Crofting Register, which they aim to make as user friendly as possible.
The Register will be administered and maintained by the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland and applications will be made via the Crofting Commission. As part of the reforms brought in by the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, it will be a legal requirement that all crofts will be Registered when an event such as assignation or sale triggers Registration.
An application to register a croft, common grazings or land held in runrig in the Crofting Register will need to be accompanied by a description of the subjects that is sufficient to enable the Keeper to identify and plot the subjects and plot them on to the Crofting Register Ordnance Survey map. This means that in most cases, a plan must accompany any application for first registration for a croft and common grazing.
All those wishing to respond have until the 17th August 2012 to do so. Further information on the Consultation process can be found here. If you would like further advice on how the implementation of the Crofting Register may affect you, Inksters can assist you. Contact Brian Inkster and Eilidh Ross.
blog comments powered by