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Many of the news items on this page are links to crofting news contained on other websites such as scotsman.com

If you have a news item that you think we should include here then please contact us.

Articles/Letters/News items are sought for the next edition of the Group's Newsletter. Please submit any items for inclusion to the Editor, Eilidh Ross.

11 August 2010

Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 now available as a PDF

6 August 2010

The Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill received Royal Assent today.

13 July 2010

Membership subscription renewals have been issued to all members today along with details of the Crofting Law Conference in Fort William on 3 September 2010. If you do not receive these details in the post in the next few days then please contact Brian Inkster.

9 July 2010

Full details of the WS Society and Crofting Law Group annual Crofting Law Conference to take place in Fort William on Friday 3 September 2010 now available at the WS Society website where you can book your place. You can also download the Crofting Law Conference 2010 Brochure [PDF].

8 July 2010

Legal challenge delays crofters’ hostile buyout

7 July 2010

The WS Society and Crofting Law Group annual Crofting Law Conference will take place in Fort William on Friday 3 September 2010. Full details will be posted here shortly.

6 July 2010

The Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill and the curious incident of the unopposed opposition amendment

5 July 2010

The Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill - as passed [308KB PDF]

2 July 2010

Chaotic scenes as crofting reform voted in

Crofters will carry on regardless: Press Release from the Scottish Crofting Federation [PDF]

26 February 2010

Iain Macneil of Barra

It was with sadness that we heard of the death of Iain Macneil of Barra. He was an active member of the Group and was host to a very enjoyable Crofting Law Group Conference in Barra several years ago. Read his obituary from the Telegraph

17 January 2010

Western Isles Council (Comhairle nan Eilean Siar) are holding a Crofting Conference entitled ‘The Future of Crofting’ at the Caberfeidh Hotel, Stornoway on Tuesday 26 January 2010. The Agenda for the day is:-

09:00 – 09:30    Registration

09:30 – 09:45    Welcome and opening – Convener CnES

09:45 – 10:30    Address from Minister for Environment Roseanna Cunningham followed by Q & A session.

10:30 – 10:45    Coffee/Tea

10:45 – 12:00    Crofting Reform Bill – Derek Flyn to chair panel session.

12:00 – 13:00    HIE Presentation on delivery for crofting community support.

13:00 – 14:00    Lunch

14:00 – 14:30    Youth Focus - Crofting Connections

14:30 – 15:30 Workshop sessions on:

Housing

Common Agricultural Policy – Future direction

Community Ownership and crofting

View forward from SCF

15:30 – 16:00 Summary and close of Conference

A limited number of places are available to members of the Crofting Law Group on a first come first served basis. If you wish to attend please contact Malina Maclean on 0851 709 314.

10 December 2009

The AGM of the Crofting Law Group was held in the Craigmonie Hotel, Inverness. 21 members of the Group attended. The meeting saw Keith Graham retiring as Hon Secretary after 15 years service to the Group in that role. A vote of thanks was given to Keith by the Group's Chairman, Sir Crispin Agnew, who presented Keith with a present from the Group's members. Eilidh Ross who is the Group's Newsletter Editor was elected to the Committee. Serving Committee Member, Brian Inkster, was elected to replace Keith Graham as Hon Secretary to the Group. Following the AGM, Bruce Beveridge, Head of the Rural Communities Division in the Scottish Government, gave the Group an overview of the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill with an interactive discussion taking place amongst members on the proposed provisions contained in the Bill. The evening finished with refreshments, nibbles and chat.

Photos from the AGM of the Crofting Law Group:-

Keith Graham retires as Hon Secretary

Members of the Crofting Law Group at the 2009 AGM

The Committee Members of the Crofting Law Group following the 2009 AGM

[Left to Right: Eilidh Ross (Newsletter Editor), Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw QC (Chairman), Iain Maciver, Brian Inkster (Hon Secretary), Duncan MacPhee (Vice Chairman). Missing from the photo is Andrew Harmsworth]

10 December 2009

The Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill was introduced in the Scottish Parliament yesterday (9 December) and officially launched by Roseanna Cunningham in Inverness today (10 December).

You can download The Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill, Explanatory Notes and the Policy Memorandum from The Scottish Parliament Website

Find details of the stages of the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill and the 'Call for views' at The Scottish Parliament website

Watch the BBC Report on the introduction of the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill which includes an interview with Crofting Law Group Committee Member, Eilidh Ross.

Read the initial views on the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill as expressed by Crofting Law Group Committee Member, Brian Inkster, via The Firm Online.

16 November 2009

Keith Graham, the retiring Principal Clerk of the Scottish Land Court, tells John Ross of The Scotsman why he favours reform: 'Definitive register' best answer to croft land disputes.

4 November 2009

The consultation responses on the Draft Crofting Reform Bill have been published by The Scottish Government.

12 September 2009

Government concessions in Crofting Reform Bill
Agreement to remove occupancy condition

Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham has agreed to remove the occupancy condition proposed for houses built on land taken out of crofting, one of the proposals aimed at ending speculation in croft land.

Read the full article in the Press & Journal

1 June 2009

Roseanna Cunningham MSP to speak at Crofting Law Conference

21 May 2009

Crofting Law on Twitter: www.twitter.com/CroftingLaw

19 May 2009

The WS Society will present a one-day Crofting Law Conference, in association with the Crofting Law Group, in Edinburgh on Friday 12 June 2009.

The full programme is as follows:

09.30-10.00 Registration and coffee

10.00-10.15 Introduction
Conference Chairman,
Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw Bt., Q.C.

10.15-10.40 Keynote address
The Government's Consultation Paper:
The Reform of Crofting Law
Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Minister for Environment

10.40-11.15 Discussion and questions

11.15-11.45 Coffee

11.45-12.15 Recent case law
David Hay, Advocate

12.15-13.00 The new Register of Crofts
John King, Legal Director, Registers of Scotland

13.00-14.15 Lunch

14.15-14.45 Common grazings and the deemed croft
Brian Inkster, Solicitor, Messrs Inksters

14.45-15.15 Topical issues in Crofting Law
Assignation, division, subletting,
succession, vacant crofts
Donald Smith, Solicitor, Crofters Commission

15.15-15.45 Tea

15.45-16.15 Topical issues in Crofting Law
Purchase, rent, compensation
Eilidh Ross, Solicitor, Macleod & MacCallum

16.15-16.45 Questions and close of the conference

To book visit the WS Society website.

19 May 2009

The Scottish Government launched the consultation on the Crofting Reform Bill today. The consultation ends on 12 August 2009. See:-

The Scottish Government News Release on the Crofting Reform Bill

Draft Crofting Reform (Scotland) Bill Consultation Paper

2 April 2009

The Independent: Vanishing point: Scotland's crofters battle to save their ancient communities

25 March 2009

The WS Society will present a one-day Crofting Law Conference, in association with the Crofting Law Group, in Edinburgh on Friday 12 June 2009. Full details will appear here once the programme has been finalised.

5 March 2009

Donald Smith, Duncan MacPhee and Eilidh Ross repeated their lectures from 2 March 2009 to the part time LLB Property Law Class at the University of Strathclyde Law School.

2 March 2009

The Crofting Law Group continued the series of lectures today to the LLB Property Law Class at the University of Strathclyde Law School. Donald Smith lectured on assignation, division, subletting, succession and vacant crofts. Duncan MacPhee covered removal, record, renunciation, boundaries, access and cottars. Eilidh Ross then finished the series with purchase, rent and compensation.

26 February 2009

Keith Graham, Derek Flyn & Brian Inkster repeated their lectures from 23 February 2009 to the part time LLB Property Law Class at the University of Strathclyde Law School.

23 February 2009

The Crofting Law Group today started a series of lectures to the the LLB Property Law Class at the University of Strathclyde Law School. Keith Graham gave an introduction to and the history of crofting law. Keith's lecture also covered the Land Court and the Crofters Commission. Derek Flyn then provided a lecture on what is a croft and common grazings, new crofts, enlargement, exchange and conditions of tenure. The final lecture of the day was given by Brian Inkster on resumption, decrofting and schemes for development.

8 January 2009

Agricultural Law Mediation

Stirling Management Centre, Tuesday 10th February 2009

The Agricultural Law Association, in association with Core Solutions Group, invite members of the Crofting Law Group to a unique training event: the opportunity to consider mediation in the contentious agricultural law context.

The mediation demonstration involves a fictitious Landlord and Tenant, who have reached a deadlock in negotiations in relation to rent and have agreed to refer the dispute to mediation. They have agreed that John Sturrock QC of Core Solutions Group will act as the mediator. Both parties have signed a Mediation Agreement and have arranged to produce a statement of the issues they wish to resolve, and to send this, together with all other relevant paperwork, to the mediator in advance.

The programme includes a talk by the Chairman of the Crofting Law Group, Sir Crispin Agnew QC, on 'Mediation in the Agricultural Law context'.

For full details and to book go to the website of the Agricultural Law Association

4 December 2008

The AGM of the Crofting Law Group, including an interactive discussion led by Brian Inkster on the future of the Group, was held in the offices of the Scottish Land Court in Edinburgh. There was a very good attendance by members.

After the meeting Sir Crispin Agnew QC gave a presentation on “what has happened in 2008”.

Members were then given a guided tour of the Courts and offices. The evening finished with refreshments and nibbles.

6 October 2008

Plan for new crofting areas is welcomed

2 October 2008

Croft commission is saved from the axe

1 October 2008

The Scottish Government today issued its Response to the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting

13 September 2008

Sea eagles kill 200 lambs, crofters claim

27 August 2008

The Scottish Crofting Foundation (SCF) has asked the Scottish Government for assurances that recommendations in the ‘Shucksmith Report’ that call for increased support to crofters will be honoured.

SCF Chairman Neil MacLeod said “We have been holding meetings all over the crofting counties to discuss the Shucksmith report with crofters. Whilst there are mixed views about some of the recommendations to introduce tighter regulations there is a consensus on the fact that no matter how crofting is regulated, it cannot continue if there is no financial return. It is not hard maths. All crofters want is fair pay for work done, and if a crofter is losing money year on year at some point they will have to say “enough” and pack it in.”

30 July 2008

Crofters dig in over radical shake-up of years of tradition

1 July 2008

The Crofters Commission today welcomed a new face on board following the resignation of Robin Callander on health grounds.

Dr Isobel MacPhail, who has been a member of the Commission for five years, has been appointed to succeed Mr Callander who served for just over six months.

Dr MacPhail, whose appointment runs until 30 April 2011, operates a croft in Stoer, Sutherland, serves as the grazing Clerk for her township and was elected by the township as their Director to the Board of Assynt Crofters Trust. She is Project Manager for the MacKay Country Project and a Research Mentor for the Scottish Community Action Research Fund (SCARF).

3 June 2008

Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 as amended by the Crofting Reform etc. Act 2007 - Courtesy of the Crofters Commission - now available to download at Legislation

30 May 2008

The WS Society presented a one-day Crofting Law Conference in Inverness, in association with the Crofting Law Group, chaired by the Group's Chairman, Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw, Bt, QC. As last year this was a great success with over 60 delegates in attendance.

Professor Mark Shucksmith gave the keynote address on the Final Report by the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting. Break out Groups then discussed the Report with wide ranging views being expressed thereon. In the afternoon Donald Smith, Solicitor with the Crofters Commission, gave a talk on Changes brought about by the Crofting Reform etc. Act 2007. Derek Flyn, of Macleod & MacCallum, Solicitors, Inverness then covered Changes in Resumption and Schemes for Development. Brian Inkster, of Inksters, Solicitors, Glasgow gave the final talk of the day on Drafting Crofting Clauses in Wind Farm Leases and the Section 19A Application/Intimation.

13 May 2008

Crofting body 'should be scrapped' after half a century, says professor

12 May 2008

The Committee of Inquiry on Crofting issued their Final Report today. View the full report or watch a video summary of the Committee's recommendations delivered by the Chairman of the Committee, Professor Mark Shucksmith at: www.croftinginquiry.org/Documents/final-report

24 April 2008

Two of the Group's committee members today gave talks at the RICS Scotland Rural Mid-session Conference at the Birnam Institute, Dunkeld: Keith Graham gave a talk on the Scottish Land Court and Brian Inkster gave a talk on the Crofting Reform etc. Act 2007.

4 April 2008

The Crofting Law Group are again joining up with the WS Society to arrange a joint Conference at the Drumossie Hotel, Inverness on Friday 30 May 2008. Professor Shucksmith has agreed to address the Conference on the Committee's Report and there will be an opportunity to discuss the Report's recommendations. In the afternoon there will be talks on the 2007 Act and wind farms.

4 April 2008

Professor Shucksmith's Committee Report is to be launched on 12 May 2008 and will be available on the Committee's website: www.croftinginquiry.org.

3 April 2008

'Beat housing shortage by building on crofting land'

28 January 2008

The Crofting Reform etc. Act 2007 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2007 brings into force today all the provisions of the Crofting Reform etc. Act 2007 not already in force. Read it at Legislation

5 January 2008

Croft work

19 December 2007

The Crofting Reform etc. Act 2007 (Commencement No. 2) Order 2007 is made which will bring into force on 28 January 2008 all of the provisions of the Crofting Reform etc. Act 2007 not already in force. Read it at Legislation

6 December 2007

The AGM of the Crofting Law Group was held in Inverness.

4 December 2007

The Crofting Law Group website has been updated to include all current members who have requested their details to be listed on the Members' section of the website. If you are a member of the Group and your details are not on the web directory and you wish them to be on it or your details are on the web directory but are incorrect then please contact us.

4 December 2007

Croft carve-ups in focus after order to re-let Skye plots

1 December 2007

Croft owners told land must be farmed

1 November 2007

Crofts 'being priced out of locals' reach'

14 October 2007

Lamb-in-a-box to stop crofters being fleeced

28 September 2007

Ma ane Heilan' hame

16 August 2007

Call for right-to-buy change to beat crofting speculators

21 July 2007

The people versus Lord Strathnaver

25 June 2007

The Crofting Reform etc. Act 2007 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2007 brings into force today certain sections of the Crofting Reform etc. Act 2007. Read it at Legislation

13 June 2007

Call to extend land right-to-buy laws

10 May 2007

The WS Society presented a one-day Crofting Law Conference in Inverness, in association with the Crofting Law Group, chaired by Lord McGhie. This was a great success with over 70 delegates in attendance.

Professor Roddy Paisley was the first speaker on Servitudes and Conditions. Brian Inkster, Solicitor, then looked at Resumption Clauses in Missives: a Landlord's perspective. David Macleod, Advocate, continued the topic of Resumption and the law surrounding it. Donald Smith, Solicitor with the Crofters Commission, covered Assignation, Sub-division and Re-letting. The question of Crofters Rights To Buy was dealt with by Duncan McPhee, Solicitor. The afternoon session began with a guide through the new Crofting Reform etc. Act 2007 by Peter Barclay, Advocate. Professor James Hunter then discussed the work of the Committee of Inquiry prior to three breakout groups considering the remit of that Committee.

2 May 2007

Two quit over board's running of community isles estate

20 April 2007

Crofting laws failing to stop land sales on open market

4 April 2007

New chief at Crofters Commission

3 April 2007

Experts selected to determine improved crofting plans

27 March 2007

The Crofting Reform etc. Act 2007 (Commencement No. 1) Order 2007 is made bringing certain sections of the Crofting Reform etc. Act 2007 into force as at 25 June 2007. Read it at Legislation

15 March 2007

Five years on and God's Isle reaps its rewards

6 March 2007

Way forward for crofting

Implementation of the Crofting Reform etc. Act 2007 will be taken forward in two stages, June 2007 and January 2008

2 March 2007

Buy-out communities share lottery windfall

1 March 2007

Crofting Reform etc. Act 2007 receives Royal Assent

14 February 2007

The Crofting Law Group's new website (i.e. the one you are currently looking at) goes live at www.croftinglawgroup.org

30 January 2007