Orkney Islands Council ends investigation into leaving UK

Orkney Islands Council has authorized it should stay a part of the United Kingdom – after spending two years exploring alternatives for larger autonomy.

Officials regarded into quite a lot of fashions for “alternative governance”.

These incorporated converting their standing in the United Kingdom and even doubtlessly turning into a self-governing territory of Norway.

A report back to councillors concluded the proposals have been too tough and too dear and participants agreed to analyze a unmarried authority type to reform how public services and products are delivered as a substitute.

Orkney’s bid to loosen its ties to the United Kingdom made world headlines two years in the past.

The former council chief, James Stockan, even floated the theory Orkney may just rejoin Norway.

The islands have been proficient to Scotland, at the side of Shetland, by way of King Christian I of Denmark and Norway in 1472 as safety for a marriage dowry.

The debt used to be by no means repaid and the islands have remained a part of Scotland ever since then.

Mr Stockan’s quest for constitutional trade stemmed from his acute frustration with the monetary reinforce Orkney has won from each the Westminster and Holyrood governments.

He used to be subsidized by way of his fellow councillors on the time, who voted by way of 15 votes to 6 in favour of exploring “alternative models of governance”.

Mr Stockan left his management function and stood down from the council in January final yr.

When the file he set in movement in spite of everything seemed ahead of councillors, its conclusion that Orkney had no lifelike prospect of fixing its dating with the United Kingdom used to be authorized with out remark.

Instead, the council is mapping out a brand new route with the Scottish govt to reform how native services and products could also be delivered in long term in the course of the unmarried authority type.

It sees well being forums and councils paintings extra intently in combination to ship services and products and initial talks were held.

Orkney’s present council chief, Heather Woodbridge, confident participants right through their assembly that this used to be just the beginning of a extra detailed appraisal and imposing the type used to be now not a foregone conclusion.

The Scottish govt believes the only authority type may just additionally paintings in Argyll and Bute and the Western Isles.

It has indicated it is going to submit extra main points and a timeline for implementation by way of the tip of this parliament subsequent yr.