Scotland: National Rural NetworkI think it is now widely accepted that the Community Right to Buy has failed to have the impact it was intended to. Since June 2004 there are 54 registered interests and 7 that have been activated. Compare this with the agricultural tenant's right to buy which has over 1000 registered.
The difference is due to a much simpler and straightforward process with no Ministerial interference and limited scope for landowners to appeal the application.
Five years ago we were led to believe that the need to re-register a community interest after 5 years would be a "light touch" process involving the minimum of process. Today, at the Rural Affairs Committee in Parliament, it became evident that communities are going to have to go through the whole process once again. New regulations were tabled which provide newly designed forms enabling re-registration applications to be made (the first registration this affects is due to expire on 30 April 2010) .
That means petitioning the community again, inviting landowners to pick over the application and appeal, and the flawed process of Ministerial decision making that has wrecked a number of applications in the past.
The Act need fundamental reform. I have written two blog entries on this yesterday and today
What do folks think?
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CRtB
Andy,
I do think that after 5 years there will inevitably be many changed cirumstances that could affect a registration of interest and it is right that there should be proper scrutiny if this registration period is to be extended. Without due process it is probable that legal challenges could follow and this would not be in anyone's interest. In addition I can see no merit in blaming Scottish Ministers as poor decision makers, they are the people at the top of the ladder with the greatest view.