Crofters Commission

10 May 2010 08:27 AM

The re-appointment of the Convenor and 4 Commissioners to the Crofters Commission has been announced by Minister for the Environment, Roseanna Cunningham.

The successful re-appointees are Drew Ratter, Convenor, Ronald Eunson, Angus McHattie, Murdo MacLennan and Robin Currie.

The re-appointments for Drew Ratter, Ronald Eunson, Angus McHattie and Murdo MacLennan will run from May 1, 2010 to April 30, 2012. Robin Currie who has had his appointment extended for 18 months will run from May 1, 2010 to October 31, 2011.

Drew Ratter, Convenor - Area Commissioner Northern Isles

Drew is a versatile crofter. He lives in the north of the Shetland mainland with his wife and family, which is where he was born and brought up. On the croft, they raise Aberdeen Angus cattle, as well as keeping poultry, rearing pigs and growing vegetables.

Drew provides leadership to the Crofters Commission Board contributing to the development and proper governance of the organisation and ensures that policies are in place to deliver fair, reasonable and transparent decisions on regulatory matters affecting Crofters and their Landlords. As Area Commissioner for the Northern Isles he engages with regulatory casework as necessary, including making final decisions on cases and conducting public hearings. He provides strategic and financial management of business cases and takes responsibility for communications with Ministers. Drew is the spokesperson for the Crofters Commission in relation to national organisations, local communities, and the national and local media.

He is a non executive Director of NHS Shetland; and a freelance journalist, these days almost entirely on land based issues, for the Shetland Times. Drew is involved with the following organisations. He is a member of National Union of Journalists, National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS), and a Director of Euromontana, and Northmavine Community Development Company. He is a Member of Ollaberry and Collafirth Common Grazings Committee.

Drew, as Director of NHS Shetland receives remuneration of £6,800.

Ronald Eunson, Area Commissioner Northern Isles

Ronnie is a self employed farmer and is a partner in Uradale farm. He is a Committee Member on DEFRA's Advisory Committee on Organic Standards, a Director of Shetland Organics a Community Interest Company, Chairman of Shetland Livestock Marketing Group, a Committee Member of Shetland Leader Action Group and Writer of occasional articles for Shetland Life Magazine.

Ronnie ensures appropriate standards of corporate governance in the work of the Crofters Commission Board and the organisation as a whole including observance of collective responsibility for Board decisions. As Area Commissioner for Shetland, Orkney and Caithness his workload involves dealing with a large amount of regulatory casework, including making final decisions on cases and conducting public hearings.

Ronnie, as a member DEFRA's Advisory Committee on Organic Standards (ACOS) and receives £136 per meeting; he also receives £5,000 per annum Honorarium from Shetland Livestock Marketing Group (SLMG).

Angus McHattie, Area Commissioner Skye, Lochalsh South & West Inverness and Argyll

Angus is an active crofter on Skye, producing store cattle and a small horticultural enterprise. Angus augments his income from the tourist trade and has interest in the self-catering market. Angus is a Retained Fire-fighter and member of Waterloo Grazing Committee and the Scottish Crofting Federation.

Angus contributes to the strategic management including setting the corporate and financial strategy for the organisation. As Area Commissioner for Skye, Lochalsh South & West Inverness and Argyll he engages with regulatory casework as necessary, including making final decisions on cases and conducting public hearings. He undertakes representative tasks on behalf of the Crofters Commission including local meetings with communities and commission assessors and participating in conference and seminars on behalf of the Commission.

Angus does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.

Murdo MacLennan, Area Commissioner Western Isles

Murdo is an active crofter in both Lewis and Harris. He is a Non Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Bord Na Gaidhlig, Director of Lewis Crofters Ltd. Murdo is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. He is a member of the Scottish Crofting Federation; he is a trustee of Bethesda Hospice, Stornoway and Chairman of the Grazing Committee, Scarp, Isle of Harris.

Murdo ensures appropriate standards of corporate governance in the work of the Crofters Commission Board and the organisation as a whole including observance of collective responsibility for board decisions. He contributes to the strategic management including setting the corporate and financial strategy for the organisation. Murdo brings effective communication and interpersonal skills to the post, as Area Commissioner for the Western Isles he engages with regulatory casework as necessary, including making final decisions on cases and conducting public hearings. He undertakes representative tasks on behalf of the Crofters Commission including local meetings with communities and commission assessors and participating in conference and seminars on behalf of the Commission.

Murdo Chairs the Efficiency and Governance Committee and represents the Crofters Commission on the Cross Party Group on crofting in the Scottish Parliament.

Murdo, as a Non Executive Director of Bord Na Gaidhlig receives remuneration of £6,200.

Robin Currie, Area Commissioner Skye Lochalsh, South & West Inverness and Argyll

Robin is a fluent Gaelic speaker and has been a member of the Crofters Commission since 2002. He is an Elected Member with Argyll and Bute Council covering Kintyre and The Islands and is a part time Development Officer for Iomairt Chille Chomain (Community Development Company and landlord of two registered crofts). Robin is a Member of the Scottish Crofting Federation and a Management Committee Member of the West Highland Housing Association, Chair, Ionad Chaluim Chille Ile and Trustee of the Islay Museum Trust.

Robin ensures appropriate standards of corporate governance in the work of the Crofters Commission Board and the organisation as a whole including observance of collective responsibility for board decisions. He is committed to delivering National Outcomes promoting the occupation and use of land and shared management of communal resources. He contributes to the strategic management including setting the corporate and financial strategy for the organisation. As Area Commissioner for Skye, Lochalsh South & West Inverness and Argyll he engages with regulatory casework as necessary, including making final decisions on cases and conducting public hearings. He undertakes representative tasks on behalf of the Crofters Commission including local meetings with communities and commission assessors and participating in conference and seminars on behalf of the Commission.

Robin is a Scottish Liberal Democrat councillor with Argyll and Bute Council and receives payment of £16,234.

These posts are part-time and attract a remuneration of £29,658, for the Convenor for a time commitment of 12 days per month and a remuneration of £7,440 for the Commissioners for a time commitment of four days per month.

The Crofters Commission is a public body established by the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1955. The Commission helps to regulate crofting, promote occupancy of crofts, promote active land use and shared management by crofters. It is a means of sustaining and enhancing rural communities, to promote the interests of crofters, to review all matters relating to crofting and to advise Ministers on crofting matters. This is a challenging time for the Commission with the introduction of the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill.

These Ministerial public appointments were made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.

Mr Currie has declared that he currently holds political office as a Scottish Liberal Democrat member of Argyll and Bute Council.

None of the others have declared any political activity.