Councillors to debate autonomy report in private

COUNCILLORS will meet behind closed doors on Wednesday morning to discuss a progress report on the Our Islands Our Future initiative, which could lead to greater autonomy for Scotland’s island communities.

The meeting is being held in private because councillors are also discussing the business of other organisations – namely Orkney Islands Council and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (the Western Isles’ council).  

Both of those local authorities have held similar meetings in private over recent days.

The meeting is expected to also give delegated authority to chief executive Mark Boden to ensure discussions with the Scottish Government to achieve an “islands deal” continue while local government elections are taking place.

Following Alex Salmond’s “Lerwick Declaration” of summer 2013, the Scottish government has promised to bring forward an islands bill in 2017 that would “empower’ Scotland’s island communities.