News / Isles’ campaign scoops award
SIC LEADER Gary Robinson and his Orkney and Western Isles counterparts have won the leadership category at the Scottish Public Service Awards.
The award is for their Our Islands Our Future (OIOF) campaign, which sought to gain greater control over island affairs for the three local authorities, and was presented during a ceremony at the Scottish Parliament on Friday.
Launched in June 2013, the OIOF campaign sought to take advantage of the debate surrounding the Scottish independence referendum and resulted in pledges of more autonomy from governments in Westminster and Holyrood.
After a majority of people voted ‘no’ in September’s referendum, there have been pledges in areas including the Crown Estate’s control over seabed rights around the islands.
Robinson said the award was a recognition of 18 months of “unprecedented joint work between the three islands councils”.
“I welcome the acknowledgement of our national lobbying to promote the needs of our islands and to find solutions that best fit our communities,” he said.
“Work is now ongoing with both the Scottish and UK governments to deliver on their respective pledges. I’d like to thank all those involved who have worked on and supported the OIOF campaign since the start of 2013.”
Western Isles council leader Angus Campbell said the campaign had taken advantage of a “unique opportunity” to “enforce the fact that the needs and status of island areas are different and need to be clearly recognised”.
Orkney Islands Council convener Steven Heddle said the three leaders were “delighted” to share the award.
It “vindicates our key argument that one size should not fit all, and that we need the flexibility to find islands solutions to make the most of our opportunities”, Heddle added, such as their “myriad marine resources”.
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