Rum Task Group Update - December 2008
Press Release 9th December 2008
The Isle of Rum Community Trust welcomed today the opportunities that the Taskforce set up by Mike Russell, has enabled on Rum.
A phased transfer will enable the community to grow and build capacity in order to be in a better position to take on management of the assets to be transferred in phase 2. The phase one transfer will allow most of the objectives of the Community Trust to be met by delivering business opportunities and population growth, with phase 2 delivering longer term security.
In line with Land Reform legislation a community ballot will be held early in the New Year to demonstrate community support for the land and asset transfer.
Ends.
For further information please contact:-
Fliss Hough, Director 01687 462744 or Charlie King, Chairperson 01687 462741
Rum Task Group Update - December 2008
NOTES FOR NEWS EDITORS
1. Rum has been owned and managed by the Government conservation agencies since 1957. It passed from the Nature Conservancy Council to SNH in 1992.
2. The Rum Summit, convened by Michael Russell on December 3 2007, brought the island's community and the key Government agencies together to discuss the economic, social and environmental potential of the island with the principal objective of developing a joint approach to realising the full benefit of the isle's resources.
3 The summit led to the formation of a Task Group which aimed to identify and facilitate actions in support of the development of a dynamic community on Rum which is not solely dependent on SNH. The Task Group reported to the Minister on progress in June. Today's meeting will hear progress reports from the Task Group.
4. Achievements on the island over the past year include: Investment of £500,000 by SNH to improve the water supply and initiate a feasibility study to improve the electricity supply; these are essential pre-requisites for further development on the island. Formal establishment of the Isle of Rum Community Trust as the future custodian of community interests on the island. Recruitment of a development manager to work with the community and Task Group partners to take forward planning for community development on Rum. Endorsement for the Village Development Plan. Creation of three crofts in Kinloch Village with the potential for creating a further two. Devising a clear plan of the future housing needs of the community encompassing the self-build of 20 house plots, potential renovation projects and affordable housing.
5. The land and property identified for the first phase of the transfer by February 2009 is: the community hall, village shop and tea room site, campsite, boathouse, potential hostel development site, land for the construction of holiday accommodation, the designated croft land and other miscellaneous land not proposed for agricultural use.
6. The community are to be balloted on the proposal that the whole package of assets is transferred to the Trust in a phased manner. The ballot is expected to take place in January 2009.
Rum Task Group Update - June 2008
New vision for Rum
06/06/2008
A new vision for a thriving community on Rum owned by its inhabitants has been outlined today by Environment Minister Michael Russell
Mr Russell has given the green light to the Isle of Rum Community Trust to conclude with Scottish Natural Heritage, an agreement on about how land and property in Kinloch Village and Glen could be developed in the future, in the ownership of the community.
He also announced that crofting is set to take place on the island for the first time.
As part of a meeting with the Rum Task Group, Mr Russell said:
"The Scottish Government is committed to the sustainable economic development of this truly unique island.
"In December I convened the Rum Summit, which led to the formation of the Task Group which is meeting jointly with the Rum Steering Group today.
"Today marks a significant step in the ongoing work that has been carried out.
"I want to see a process put in place to enable the local community to own and manage land and property in Kinloch Village and Glen, and to develop a thriving local community with a sustainable economy.
"Of course, during that process - which I want concluded as soon as practical - there are a number of issues which need to be resolved. The will is there to resolve them and the Government will ensure that happens.
"The Trust and Task Group partners will now explore the means by which this can,all take place with the end result being clear benefits for the islanders, the island and for the local economy, including increased tourism.
"An element of this is the agreement already in place that up to five crofts will be created to help bring some more people to live on the island.
"Crofting has been enormously successful in other parts of Scotland and I see no reason why it cannot flourish in this attractive setting. The sale of a few house plots needs also to be considered.
"Much has been achieved in the last six months, which is an enormous credit to the Task Group and the community. I want to see the interested parties continuing to work together to achieve a truly prosperous Rum.
"I will ensure that the Scottish Government is fully engaged in the task and the full summit will re-convene in December to ensure continued urgent progress."
Rum has been owned and managed by the Government conservation agencies since 1957. It passed from the Nature Conservancy Council to SNH in 1992.
The Rum Summit, convened by the Michael Russell on December 3, 2007, brought the island's community and the key Government agencies together to discuss the economic, social and environmental potential of the island with the principal objective of developing a joint approach to realising the full benefit of the isle's resources.
The summit agreed - and the Minister endorsed the proposal - that a Task Group should be formed to identify and facilitate actions in support of the development of a dynamic community on Rum which is not solely dependent on SNH. The purpose of the meeting on the Isle of Rum on 6 June is for the Rum Task Group to report to the Minister on the progress it is making on achieving its remit.
Achievements of the Task Group during the last six months include:
* Investment of £500,000 by SNH to improve the water supply and initiation of a feasibility study to improve the electricity supply. These are essential pre-requisites for further development on the island
* Formal establishment of the Isle of Rum Community Trust as the future custodian of community interests on the island
* Recruitment of a development manager to work with the community and Task Group partners to take forward planning for community development on Rum
* The Village Development Plan has been endorsed by the local community as providing the basis for planning future developments
* SNH and the community have submitted an application to the Crofters' Commission for designation of 50 hectares of croft land to support up to five crofts on the island
* SNH in consultation with the community have identified the potential extent of property which could in due course be transferred to the community
The Isle of Rum Community Trust (IRCT) will lead on the development of a crofting allocations policy over the coming months which will include decisions on whether there should be a phased approach to the release of crofts and over what timescale. Other key considerations for the Crofters' Commission and the Community Trust include the building of croft houses, SNH stock grazing management requirement, and support for the development of croft management plans and funding applications.
Rum Task Group Update - March 2008
As a result of several years hard work - The first meeting of the Isle of Rum community Trust took place on Thursday 20th March. Well attended by local members and directors from the highland council and SNH, the community company set out its aims and objectives for the coming year - this included the appointment of Ian Lever as the trust's development officer. Ian's tasks will be to take forward a number of community initiatives and assist with the issues created by the proposed land transfer from SNH to the community Trust.
Company directors are Fliss Hough (acting chair), David Frew, Sean Morris and Lesley Watt. HC director is local councillor Allan Henderson, who commented at the meeting on the motivation and commitment of the community. SNH's director is Sheila Nairn.
Maggie Fyffe, from Eigg, has also been appointed as a director for the help and support she will be able to give during our first year or so.
Rum Task Group - February 2008
Minister for Environment, Michael Russell, has appointed Lesley Riddoch as Chair of the Rum Task Group.
Ms Riddoch will lead this short-life advisory body in identifying and facilitating actions which support the aim of developing a dynamic community on the Isle of Rum.
Mr Russell said: "Rum is truly unique in its geology and nature conservation interest and has tremendous potential for sympathetic development.
"The Rum Task Group will focus on generating proposals for advancing community development opportunities on the island. In Lesley Riddoch, they have a chair who will be able to make things happen.
"I look forward to hearing more about their work over the coming months."
Ms Riddoch will be supported by Fliss Hough and Maggie Fyffe, community representatives from Rum and Eigg respectively, as members of the Task Group. Representatives from Scottish Natural Heritage, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Highland Council, Communities Scotland, Crofters Commission and Lochaber Housing Association will be involved in the Group's work.
The Task Group has been asked to deliver its remit by December 31, 2008, and to provide progress reports to Mr Russell at the end of May and end of November this year. One of the Group's first tasks will be to agree a job description, management structure and funding package for a development worker to support the process over the next 12 months. An advertisement for this post is expected to be published shortly.
Lesley Riddoch is a Sony award winning broadcaster and Director of Feisty Ltd - a Dundee based radio, podcast & TV production company. She presents a weekly current affairs programme Riddoch Questions for BBC Scotland and has just published her first book, Riddoch; On the Outer Hebrides, and was a founding member of the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust. She is a topical newspaper commentator - regular columns in the Guardian and Scotsman won her a place on the 2006 shortlist of the Orwell Prize for Political Writing. She was appointed as a member of the Scottish Government's Prisons Commission in October 2007 by Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill. The appointment is not remunerated. Ms Riddoch holds no other Ministerial appointments.
Ms Riddoch will receive remuneration on standard terms applicable to ministerial appointments to advisory bodies. This will be set at £200 per day and will be based on providing 48 days input over 12 months of the Task group's remit.
The Rum Summit, convened by the Minister for Environment, Michael Russell on Monday, December 3, 2007, brought the island's community and the key Government agencies together to discuss the economic, social and environmental potential of the island with the principal objective of developing a joint approach to realising the full benefit of the Isle's resources.
The meeting drew on the experience of community representatives from Rum and Eigg, senior staff from Scottish Natural Heritage, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Highland Council, Historic Scotland, the Prince's Regeneration Trust and the Scottish Government. The event was facilitated by Lesley Riddoch. The summit considered the full range of issues impacting on the future of the isle and its community including the examination of a shift towards community control.
The summit agreed - and the Minister endorsed the proposal - that a Task Group should be formed to identify and facilitate actions in support of the development of a dynamic community on Rum which is not solely dependent on SNH.
The Task Group's first meeting was in Fort William (Tuesday February 5).
Related Information: HERE and HERE
