Public Support for Crofting Development

Presentation to the Cross Party Group on Crofting29th January 2014

Gordon Jackson Scottish GovernmentJohn King Registers of ScotlandNeil Ross Highlands and Islands EnterpriseSusan Walker Crofting Commission

• Committee of Inquiry on crofting (2008)Committee of Inquiry on crofting (2008)– ““Government will enable innovation, enterprise, Government will enable innovation, enterprise,

inclusion and institutional capacity for community action inclusion and institutional capacity for community action to ensure crofting contributes to society’s goals”to ensure crofting contributes to society’s goals”

• Croft entrant schemesCroft entrant schemes• LegislationLegislation

– CroftingCrofting– Land ReformLand Reform

• Crofting Communities Development SchemeCrofting Communities Development Scheme• Bull Hire SchemeBull Hire Scheme

Pre 2010

Scottish Government (SG) Legislative frameworkFuture of crofting - Policy leadSGRPID- Scottish Rural Development Programme- Single Farm payments- Rural development contracts - Land manager options - Rural development contracts – Rural priorities - Croft house grants- Crofting counties agricultural grant scheme- Less favoured area support scheme- Bull Hire Scheme

Crofting Commission (CC) Regulator- Protection of crofting assets- Enhancing occupation of crofts- Ensuring purposeful use- Approval of appropriate development- Managing de-crofting & apportionment- Maintaining the Register of Crofters- Supporting Crofting Register (Map based)

- mapping & regi’n common grazings- registrations of indiividual crofts

- Other regulation of crofting- Lead on reporting state of crofting- Influencing policy development

Highlands and Islands EnterpriseIntegrating

- Next generation of crofters- Skills and capacity building- Collaboration with CC- Influencing policy development

Registers of Scotland (RoS)Host for Crofting Register- Registering crofts- Registration of common grazings- Registration of land held runrig

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)t- Supporting high nature value agriculture- Evaluation of ‘conservation’ grants (through SRDP)

- Research

Whole Community Led Development

Crofting Community Development

Local Authorities (LA’s)Planning regulator- Development of planning policy- Determination of planning applications- Influencing policy development

C r o f t i n g C o m m u n i t i e sCrofters, their families and neighbours

C r o f t i n g system

Post 2010

• Regulation• Crofters’ duties• Grazing committees• Common grazings – assets!• Assessors network• Duty to report• Policy development

Crofting Commission

• Crofting Counties Agricultural Grant Scheme (CCAGS)• Croft House Grant Scheme (CHGS)• Crofters Cattle Quality Improvement Scheme (CCQIS)• New Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP)

SG grant funding

Crofting Register

Provide a basis for crofting in the 21st C

Protect and secure croft land for crofters

Support crofting communities

Promote economic growth – enable croft land to realise its economic potential

Provide a means for resolving long-standing boundary disputes

ros.gov.uk Recording and safeguarding your rights

• Capacity and skills• Succession• Community land ownership• Community-led development

• Public sector collaboration• Influencing policy

HIE

Whole Community Led development

Crofting Community Development

• A range of free seminars and workshops • A network of business advisers

– Sharing of experience and expertise– Business planning– Start-up– Growing businesses– Reaching full potential

• Business Support – Accessing finance– Impartial advice– Specialist advisory services

LAs - Business Gateway

• Joint communications• Policy and research• Planning • Geographic focus

CollaborationAn imperative to realise opportunities and agree priorities

“Government [in close collaboration with its agencies] will enable innovation, enterprise, inclusion and institutional capacity for community action to ensure crofting contributes to society’s goals”

Realising the potential