UK “Levelling Up” chief Greg Clark has been visiting Orkney this week, ahead of the first-ever islands forum.
Orkney will serve as the host for the gathering, when it takes place in Kirkwall on September 27.
Mr Clark said he is on a mission to “get under the skin of islands issues and understand them” so he can serve as a better chair when the forum takes place.
He spoke to the leaders of Orkney Islands Council and heard about their plans for the future – for example, the ambitious Harbours Masterplan.
This ambition, Mr Clark said, is exactly what landed Orkney the hosting role for the forum.
He said: “Orkney, in my experience, is very energetic and ambitious. I’ve known this for years. When I was a junior minister, I was responsible for devolution in cities.
“I was negotiating what became the Glasgow City Deal. The council in Orkney got to hear of it and came down to see me in my office in Whitehall and said: ‘cities are all very well but Orkney has just the same potential as Glasgow.
“‘We’ve got technology, we’ve got tourism, we’ve got energy, and we think we should have a deal.’
“So, I was the least surprised of anyone that Orkney had landed the hosting role for the first UK islands forum.”
While in Orkney Mr Greg also plans to view installations at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) and hear more about the county’s port ambitions.
How could the Islands Forum actually help islanders?
As Mr Greg says, the idea behind his trip is to find out more about the issues affecting the islands.
So, how will hosting the islands forum actually benefit people in Orkney with the issues affecting them, such as the cost of living crisis?
He said: “The purpose of the exercise is to reflect on the fact that island communities face particular challenges and opportunities.
“Sometimes there isn’t enough of a focus on the needs of islands. Having the summit will help have a more focused understanding.
“But, it’s not sufficient to just understand, there then needs to be action taken.
“When we talk about the cost of living, energy prices are a big driver of that.
“For many island communities, including Orkney, it’s a particular pressure. There does need to be recognition of that.
“One of the things that have come out of our discussions today is that it would be desirable to have Ofgem represented for discussions at the forum.”
Could visit help Orkney’s Levelling up applications?
As Levelling Up Secretary Mr Clark is, obviously, responsible for the levelling up fund.
Orkney has handed in its own applications for the fund.
The MP was asked if this visit may help those applications’ cases.
Laughing, he replied: “Of course, you have to remain objective. No one must have an unfair advantage by the fact that it’s been a beautiful day here and it’s a beautiful place.
“But it doesn’t do it any harm, to be able to see with your own eyes what you’ve only seen in a document.”
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