Community Land Scotland has released the following statement on the proposed new arrangements for the operation of the Crown Estate Commision in Scotland, which the K governemnt appears to have accepted. (See our earlier article here.)
‘We are disappointed the Government has missed an opportunity to join the consensus for fundamental change in the way the Crown Estate is managed.
‘The case for that change is undiminished.
‘The report is somewhat contradictory in appearing to offer future opportunities through local management agreements, while also appearing to rule out transfer of control of vital local assets.
‘While continuing to advocate more fundamental change, we will test the boundaries of what may be possible within the local management agreements that are proposed.
‘We are not interested in token arrangements. We want our communities to have a real stake in the future ownership and management of their marine resources and to use those assets to grow their local economy. We are looking for access to assets that have real economic value to local communities.’
Communnity Land Scotland’s stance is a strategically constructive one. Their plan to bench test the local management arrangements proposed and will, no doubt, report on their findings.
This is a practical and rational approach whose results will be very interesting to see.
This is also good politics: test first, talk later, set within a well found and openly sceptical position.
The Crown Estate Commission’s proposals look like a calculated attempt at deflecting Scottish criticism by proposing the absolute minimum of change – but it just looks patronising and cynical, and surely risks increasing the public mood of disgust at the mercenary basis of this peculiar setup.
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One more argument for a “Yes” vote, and community ownership of our own seashore.
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