| Islands Unite For 30th Anniversary | 25 April 2005 |
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Orkney will host a three day celebration from May 14 -16 to mark the 30th anniversary of the Scottish Islands Councils. Orkney Islands Council, Shetland Islands Council and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar are the only local authorities in Scotland which have been in existence since the 1975 reorganisation of local government. All three councils have worked and planned together to hold the celebration which will include a Gala Dinner, a symposium with lectures on the current and future state of local government, and a Service of Thanksgiving in St Magnus Cathedral. The events will be attended by Conveners, Chief Executives and members of all three councils, and guests will include Scottish Executive Minister of Finance and Public Service Reform Tom McCabe MSP; Minister of Rural Affairs Ross Finnie MSP; Convener of the Local Government and Transport Committee of the Scottish Parliament, Bristow Muldoon MSP; Moderator of the Church of Scotland Dr Alison Elliot, and MPs and MSPs representing each island. The celebration will be launched with the Gala Dinner which will include local produce from each island community. The Councils’ Conveners will introduce local artists, including musicians and story tellers, from each of their communities who will provide the entertainment during the evening. On Sunday there will be a tour of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage site and a boat trip around Scapa Flow. The Thanksgiving Service at St Magnus Cathedral on Sunday afternoon is open to the public and will be preceded by a procession of representatives from the three Councils led by the Lord Lieutenants of the three Island areas. They will be met at the Cathedral by a guard of honour provided by Orkney Sea Cadets, and the Kirkwall City Pipe Band and Stromness Royal British Legion Pipe Band will be in attendance. All local ministers have been invited to the Thanksgiving Service which will be led by the Cathedral Minister Reverend Fraser Macnaughton. There will be an address by the Moderator of the Church of Scotland Dr Alison Elliot and music from the Cathedral choir and musicians from Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles. BBC Scotland’s Political Editor Brian Taylor will chair the symposium at the Pickaquoy Centre on Monday morning when speakers will be: Sandy Matheson, former Convener of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar on ‘The first 30 years - Challenges, Achievements and Reminiscences;’ Convener of Shetland Islands Council Sandy Cluness on ‘Island Government - the role of Councils in Island communities;’ Professor Jim Gallagher, Professor of Government at Glasgow University , on ‘Pre and post Devolution - the changing constitutional and National Policy Framework; Douglas Sinclair, Chairman of SOLACE (Scotland), on ‘Challenges and Opportunities.’ Brian Taylor will chair a question and contribution session following the lectures. Convener of Orkney Islands Council Stephen Hagan said: “We are delighted that this historic event will be held in Orkney. The three Islands Councils have worked hard together to plan an event that truly celebrates the work and importance of local government in island communities such as ours. It is a positive sign of our joint commitment to maintaining our roles and identities in the face of current and future challenges.” Thanking the many local businesses who are supporting the celebration, Mr Hagan said: “It is through the generous sponsorship and support of a number of local organisations that we have been able to mark this important anniversary for all three communities.” Convener of Shetland Islands Council, Sandy Cluness, said: “We are delighted to join with our colleagues in Orkney and the Western Isles to join in this 30 year celebration of islands unitary authority status which has stood us in good stead in the past and hopefully act as a platform to develop greater local control over delivering high quality services to our communities in the future”. Convener of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Alex MacDonald, said: "The inception of the Comhairle and the other Island Councils was a pioneering move that has paid great dividends for the people of our Island communities. The first Comhairle had a vision for the future of the Western Isles and many of their ambitions have been realised such as the major improvements in transport links, the founding of six year secondaries throughout the Islands, increased promotion and development of the Gaelic language and, perhaps most importantly, a democratic voice for the people who live and work in the Western Isles. That visionary beginning has been continued over the years and I am delighted to be attending this celebration of Island Councils with our colleagues from Shetland and Orkney". Nigel Scott Tel: 01851 709389 (Work) |
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