BY JACKIE MACKENZIE
A move supporting further action to diversify land ownership in Scotland has been backed by Highland councillors – despite one member saying he could see not what the problem was.
The motion was brought by Inverness Labour councillor Michael Gregson who spoke of the “profoundly unbalanced” patterns of land ownership.
At a meeting of the full council last week, members unanimously agreed the motion which shares the view of the cabinet secretary that further action on land reform to diversify land ownership is needed.
The motion also wants to see a significantly and progressively greater number of Highland communities owning land and thus controlling and retaining locally the earnings from that land, to achieve their economic potential.
Councillor Gregson told the chamber: “The land reform legislation has just gone through Holyrood and there are some important provisions to address the profoundly unbalanced land ownership patterns across the country.
“But undoubtedly this concentration in just a few hands is holding back communities’ opportunties for agency, control, and social and economic development. Some people are accumulating numerous estates – 12 or 13 estates in the hands of just one person.
“I believe the public interest test which is mentioned in the new act should be at the heart of what happens with landholding. So the identification of what is in the public interest –scrutinising statements of land ownership plans – is going to be the way forward.”
Skye Highland councillor Ruraidh Stewart (Conservative) believed large landowning public bodies such as the National Trust for Scotland and the RSPB, who he said were “virtually accountable to nobody”, should also come under scrutiny.
However Councillor Andrew Jarvie (Wick and East Caithness) said he was puzzled over the whole question of land reform.
“I have never really got to the heart of what the actual issue of land reform is,” said Councillor Jarvie of the Highland Alliance party.
“The figures always come up as a certain percentage of people own whatever percentage of land and, while not disputing that’s true, what difference does it make? What’s the actual problem we’re trying to solve?
“Okay, a small number of people have this land. Where are the actual issues where this has caused a problem. I have never heard anyone speak of that. If someone could give me some examples that would be great.”
One member shouted: “Eigg!”
SNP Councillor Leslie-Anne Niven (East Sutherland and Edderton) told Councillor Jarvie: “I’d like to give you some examples. My constituents are living in rural areas which are being bought up by individuals with lots and lots of money. We’re talking about a lack of housing, a lack of provison of childcare.
“In one area in particular, one landlord has bought up all of the available housing, outbidding anybody in the community who can afford to buy a house, which makes housing even more rare, and giving these houses to his employees who are then tied to their jobs and these jobs are not secure. If they give up that job, they also lose their house. That’s just one example.”
To applause from other members she added: “If you can’t see there’s a problem with vastly rich people owning huge swatches of this country, then you need to get out there more and talk to your constituents.”
A report will be brought to a future meeting of the communities and place committee to discuss how to best consult on the issue with a view to forming a policy.
Commenting on the council’s decision, Dr Josh Doble, director of policy with Community Land Scotland, said: “Community Land Scotland welcomes the recent motion agreed by the Highland Council on the pressing issue of land reform. Like the Highland Council, we are hugely concerned by the highly concentrated pattern of land ownership in Scotland and how it leads to the consolidation of wealth and power into the hands of a few individuals, corporations and trusts.
“We also share the celebration of community ownership around the country, most notably in the Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar council area where there are 153,678 hectares of community owned land, representing 72% of the land mass with more than 75 per cent of the population. Where community ownership has taken root we have seen more democratic land management, wealth being retained locally and populations reviving.
“We also recognise the potential damage of the wave of new ‘Green Lairds’ to rural Scotland, and the exacerbation of century long issues of land ownership in Scotland. We share Highland Council’s resolution that there needs to be a systematic programme of land reform in the near future which redresses the imbalance of power, creates opportunities for more community land ownership and also for new entrants to farming. The centrality of the public interest and tests on buyers of significant landholdings are recognised alongside the position of the Scottish Land Fund in resourcing land reform.
“These are all important points of alignment between Community Land Scotland and the Highland Council. We look forward to working with them on delivering the much-needed land reform the Highlands urgently need.”