Claims that the Comhairle are falling behind on crofting matters

Political representation from the local authority has been sparse which has concerned some elected members and next week it has been intimated that the Comhairle's crofting joint consultative committee is due to meet for the first time in 17 months.

Alliance group Convener Cllr John N. MacLeod commented: “Considering the ongoing issues faced by the Crofting fraternity alongside the challenges of Brexit and an economic recession it concerns us that our local authority hasn't sought to use its position on the cross party group on Crofting to make full political representation on behalf of our islands Crofters.”

Cllr Donald Crichton, Chairman of the Comhairle’s Crofting Committee, responded: “ The Crofting Committee usually meets three times a year. During 2020 time and resources were rightly focused on the response to COVID 19 and no meetings took place. Despite not being able to meet, the Comhairle has engaged with the Scottish Government during this time across a number of issues such as Crofter housing policy, greylag goose management, delayed payment to crofters among others. We also welcomed the Crofting Commission’s announcement of locating Development Officer posts here in the islands, something the Comhairle has campaigned for over many years.

The Comhairle’s Cross Party Group is represented at either officer or member level when it is appropriate.”