Consultation on Dornoch Common Good land withdrawn

Last month The Highland Council launched an 8-week Common Good statutory consultation giving the Dornoch community until 10 March 2020 to respond to a proposal to dispose, by new lease, of an area of Common Good land to Royal Dornoch Golf Club (RDGC) who are the existing tenants.

A decision has been made to withdraw the current consultation after a member of the public has challenged the description in the consultation document to the £25K per annum rent as being ‘a fair market rent’.  The representation stated that the wording was incorrect because it was debatable whether £25k was a ‘fair market rent’ and that this was therefore misleading to the consultees.

The Highland Council’s Property and Legal Officers have reviewed the matter and agree that this could be misleading on a technical issue so to ensure that the consultation is factually correct, they have taken the decision to withdraw the consultation with immediate effect.

The Highland Council is also now aware that a separate negotiation between Dornoch Community Council and RDGC which might have an impact on the lease . On this basis, a review of the current position must take place. This review will be in conjunction with the Golf Club and the Community Council.  Only once this has occurred can next steps, and a potential fresh consultation, be considered.