Crown Estate – devolving powers to a local level

The Leader of The Highland Council, Councillor Michael Foxley  has called on the Scottish Government to devolve the management of the Crown Estate’s property and revenues to as local a level as possible.

In giving evidence to the Scottish Parliament Committee on the Scotland Bill concerning the Crown Estate, Councillor Michael Foxley argued that devolution needed to mean giving powers to local authorities in the Highlands and Islands and to local harbour trusts as well as land under community ownership, such as Eigg. 

He said: “I described the problems over the decades caused by the Crown Estate’s mismanagement of issues such as fish farming, moorings, harbour developments and now marine renewables.  

“Another argument is that they only invest for a commercial return whereas local authorities and communities would invest for long term benefits for their populations.   They only invest a modest £4-5million per annum and that on the expectation of a quick commercial return.    The Highlands and Islands can and will do much better if the foreshore and seabed resources are managed directly by them.

“One extraordinary piece of evidence was led by the British Ports Association who said that local ports and harbours were happy with the current arrangements.    This will come as real news to Mallaig, the Cromarty Firth Port Authority as well as Scrabster Harbour!   

“When the management of the Crown Estate assets are devolved to local areas then these harbours should have the direct control and management of their own foreshore and seabed.   This will be of significant economic advantage to them.”