Thomson to chair harbour board

NORTH Isles member Robert Thomson has been appointed as the new chair of Shetland Islands Council’s harbour board.

The position became vacant after Shetland West member John Leask resigned from the council.

Thomson – who came a comfortable first in a North Isles by-election in August – was also appointed as the vice-chair of the development committee.

At Wednesday’s full council meeting the councillor was also appointed as an additional member to the environment and transport committee.

Adding to his busy schedule, the North Isles member was also appointed to the Sullom Voe Association following John Leask’s resignation.

A number of other appointments were made at Wednesday’s meeting:

• Stephen Leask was given a spot on the development committee as an additional member.
• Ryan Thomson was also appointed to fill a North Isles vacancy on the education and families committee.
• Lerwick North and Bressay member Arwed Wenger was appointed to the Orkney and Shetland Valuation Joint Board after Ryan Thomson resigned.
• Shetland Central councillor Moraig Lyall was also appointed as a substitute member to the board, which Lerwick South’s John Fraser was given a place on the SIC’s employees joint consultative committee.
• Lyall – who chairs the environment and transport committee – was also appointed to the Shetland Oil Terminal Environmental Advisory Group.

Meanwhile the council endorsed the recent appointment of depute leader Bryan Peterson as a director of Shetland Tall Ships Ltd.

The company is behind the organisation of the Tall Ships Races’ visit to Shetland in 2023.

The council also agreed to request the Standards Commission for Scotland to consider granting a dispensation to Peterson to enable him to “participate” in council business concerning Shetland Tall Ships Ltd, except when that involves financial or regulatory matters.