Rural Development Council
Encyclopedia
The Rural Development Council is an advisory body to the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment
, Richard Lochhead
MSP. Its members include: Barbara Kelly
; Donald MacRae of the Bank of Scotland
; Stuart Housden, the Director of RSPB Scotland; Derek Logie of the Rural Housing Service; Liberal Democrat Councillor Alison Hay from Argyll and Bute
Council; Kate Braithwaite, Director of the Carnegie UK Trust Rural Programme; Alex Walker, chairman of Development Trusts Association Scotland
; Shiela Garson from Shapinsay
Development Trust; Neil Macleod, the chair of the Scottish Crofting Foundation
, Jim MacLaren of NFU Scotland; and Liam Beattie, a student from the University of Stirling
.
The Council was formed in 2008 and has met in Dumfries
, Dunkeld
and Finzean
.
Mr Lochhead has said:
"I am delighted to see that we now have a forum where the rural voice can be heard at the heart of Government."
In 2010 the Council launched a consultation paper called "Speak Up for Rural Scotland". The consultation seeks views on "how best rural Scotland can contribute to the nation's sustainable economic growth", noting the potential of the natural assets of rural Scotland and identifying priorities and opportunities. These are listed as 37 "step changes" which the Council considers important.
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment
The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment is a position in the Scottish Government cabinet responsible for the Environment and Rural Affairs department. The Cabinet Secretary responsibilities include agriculture, fisheries, environment as well as land reform and sustainable...
, Richard Lochhead
Richard Lochhead
Richard Neilson Lochhead is the Scottish Government's Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment and the Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for Moray.-Background and early career:...
MSP. Its members include: Barbara Kelly
Barbara Kelly (public servant)
Dame Barbara Mary Kelly, DBE, DL , FRIAS is a Scottish civic activist. She is chairman of the Dumfries and Galloway Arts Festival, and Convener of the Crichton Foundation....
; Donald MacRae of the Bank of Scotland
Bank of Scotland
The Bank of Scotland plc is a commercial and clearing bank based in Edinburgh, Scotland. With a history dating to the 17th century, it is the second oldest surviving bank in what is now the United Kingdom, and is the only commercial institution created by the Parliament of Scotland to...
; Stuart Housden, the Director of RSPB Scotland; Derek Logie of the Rural Housing Service; Liberal Democrat Councillor Alison Hay from Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute
Argyll and Bute is both one of 32 unitary council areas; and a Lieutenancy area in Scotland. The administrative centre for the council area is located in Lochgilphead.Argyll and Bute covers the second largest administrative area of any Scottish council...
Council; Kate Braithwaite, Director of the Carnegie UK Trust Rural Programme; Alex Walker, chairman of Development Trusts Association Scotland
Development Trusts Association Scotland
Development Trusts Association Scotland often referred to as DTAS is a charitable organisation that represents the interests of development trusts. Founded in 2003 and based in Edinburgh, by 2011 the membership was over 170...
; Shiela Garson from Shapinsay
Shapinsay
Shapinsay is one of the Orkney Islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland. There is one village on the island, Balfour, from which roll-on/roll-off car ferries sail to Kirkwall on the Orkney Mainland...
Development Trust; Neil Macleod, the chair of the Scottish Crofting Foundation
Scottish Crofting Foundation
The Scottish Crofting Federation , which was formerly called the Scottish Crofting Foundation , is an organisation of crofting communities in the highlands and islands of Scotland....
, Jim MacLaren of NFU Scotland; and Liam Beattie, a student from the University of Stirling
University of Stirling
The University of Stirling is a campus university founded by Royal charter in 1967, on the Airthrey Estate in Stirling, Scotland.-History and campus development:...
.
The Council was formed in 2008 and has met in Dumfries
Dumfries
Dumfries is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth. Dumfries was the county town of the former county of Dumfriesshire. Dumfries is nicknamed Queen of the South...
, Dunkeld
Dunkeld
Dunkeld is a small town in Strathtay, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is about 15 miles north of Perth on the eastern side of the A9 road into the Scottish Highlands and on the opposite side of the Tay from the Victorian village of Birnam. Dunkeld and Birnam share a railway station, on the...
and Finzean
Finzean
Finzean is a rural community, electoral polling district, community council area and former ecclesiastical parish, which forms the southern part of the Parish of Birse, Aberdeenshire, Scotland...
.
Mr Lochhead has said:
"I am delighted to see that we now have a forum where the rural voice can be heard at the heart of Government."
In 2010 the Council launched a consultation paper called "Speak Up for Rural Scotland". The consultation seeks views on "how best rural Scotland can contribute to the nation's sustainable economic growth", noting the potential of the natural assets of rural Scotland and identifying priorities and opportunities. These are listed as 37 "step changes" which the Council considers important.