Rural Community Gateway

The Rural Development Council held their first meeting in Dunkeld on Monday 2nd June 2008. Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead chaired the first meeting.

Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead said, "I am delighted to see that we now have a forum where the rural voice can be heard at the heart of Government.

"I want to see the Rural Development Council play a central role in shaping a long-term national strategy for rural Scotland and empowering communities to feel better about themselves and their future.

"Its members draw on a wide range of experience from various walks of life, including the farming sector, environment interests, housing, tourism and the economy.

"Today represents the first chance for such a diverse group of voices to get together and take the first steps in shaping a prosperous rural Scotland.

"As Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs I will take a keen interest in the ideas and advice which the group will generate, with a view to ensuring rural Scotland is fit for both the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century."

What will the Council do?

The Rural Development Council will meet every three to four months, with additional meetings held by specialist topic groups. The Council will consider how best rural Scotland can contribute to Scotland’s sustainable economic growth. The group will assist Ministers in indentifying any obstacles to achieving this goal, consider possible solutions and offer advice to Ministers, including identifying priorities for action.

Current Committee Members

• Dame Barbara Kelly – Barbara Kelly is a partner in a farming enterprise near Dumfries, where she has lived and worked all her life. Barbara is a past Chair of the Scottish Consumer Council, a past main board member of SNH and of Scottish Enterprise. A founder for Rural Forum, and of the Southern Uplands Partnership, she oversaw the Millennium Forest for Scotland project. A member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, she is presently part of the RSE team looking at the future of Scotland’s uplands and islands.
• Dr Kate Braithwaite – Kate is Director of Carnegie UK Trust Rural Programme, which operates across the UK and Ireland. Kate studied for her PhD at Newcastle University, Centre for Rural Economy. Kate was awarded the MBE in the Millennium Honours for services to Rural Communities and the Environment.
• Stuart Housden – Stuart is Director of RSPB Scotland and sits on the UK management Board of the charity. Stuart is a member of the Scottish Power Environmental Advisory Forum and the Scottish Biodiversity Group. He was awarded an OBE for services to nature conservation and the conservation of biodiversity in 2004.
• Jim McLaren – Jim is a mixed arable and dairy farmer. He also has a share in a retail dairy business and an auction business in Crieff, where he regularly acts as auctioneer. Jim served as NFU Vice-President for the year 2006/07 and in February 2007 was elected as President of NFU Scotland.
• Pat Buchanan – Pat has lived and worked in rural Caithness for over 20 years. A Board Member of VisitScotland she has also served as Chairman of Caithness and Sutherland Enterprise and is a member of the Convention of the Highlands and Islands.
• John Bryden – John is Director of the UHI PolicyWeb, Inverness. He is Emeritus Professor at the University of Aberdeen, where he formerly held the Chair of Human Geography, and co-directed the Arkleton Centre for Rural Development Research. John has been an advisor on rural policy to the OECD, the UE and the World Bank. He is also Chair of the International Rural Network.
• Derek Logie – Derek is Director of the Rural Housing Service, a post he has held for 12 years, leading the organisation’s growth from a unit within Rural Forum to an independent charity. Derek has worked with communities across rural Scotland to secure affordable housing for local people. He is the author of many reports, including the recent Houses on Crofting Land report.
• John Ferguson – John is Director of Development and Programmes with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. His 30 year career has involved a range of posts in both local authority and voluntary sector organisations. In SCVO he is responsible for the teams promoting Equalities and Human Rights, Employment Training, Social Economy, Rural Services and European Structural Funds.
• Donald Macrae – Donald is a Strategy and Finance Director for Lloyds TSB. He founded the Business Forum – the networking organisation devoted to promotion and development of new Scottish businesses. Donald was a member of the 2007-08 Committee of Inquiry on Crofting.
• James McLellan – James has served in Argyll County Council, Argyll and Bute District Council and Argyll and Bute Council, having been the Chief Executive of the latter for the past 13 years. He has particular experience of the challenges of service delivery to remote rural and island communities, and of the challenges of sustaining communities.
• Gillian Slider – Gillian was born and brought up in Ullapool in the North West Highlands. She works full time as the Youth Convener in the Highland Council and is also a Director of the Scottish Youth Parliament as the convener of the Transport, Environment and Rural Affairs committee.  She is Scotland’s representative on the steering group of the CIVICUS Youth Assembly and also represents Scotland in the UK Youth Parliament and the World Youth Congress.
• Neil Macleod – Neil has been the Chair of the Scottish Crofting Foundation since February 2008, having previously been Vice Chair for two years and is also a board member for the Scottish Sheep Strategy. Neil is also a Board Member of the QMS TAC Committee, Lewis Crofters Ltd, Agricultural Merchants and is a director of Long Island Auction Mart and Co. Chomunn na Pairc.
• Alison Hay – Councillor Alison Hay is the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities Spokesperson on Regeneration and Sustainable Development. She is a member of the Scottish Liberal Democrat Group on Argyll and Bute Council and was Leader of the Council from 1999 to 2001.

You can read more in depth bios of the members of the Rural Development Council on the Scottish Government website.

Related links

Download Carnegie Charter for Rural Communities
Download Scottish Consumer Council's Rural Advocacy report
Download Houses on Crofting Land report
Download Crofting Inquiry report
New report says rural voice not being heard
Warm welcome for radical report on crofting
Great Rural Debate on Housing (Derek Logie)

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