Consultancy Services for Rural & Agricultural Development - Maximising the potential in the Islands of Orkney, Shetland and Outer Hebrides

Tender description

Orkney Islands Council wishes to appoint a suitably experienced organisation to explore the impacts or rural development/agricultural legislation (Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill) and subsequent policy guidance on the economy and community well-being of the islands within the 3 Local Authority Areas. To identify and quantify the risks and opportunities and make recommendations. Orkney Islands Council wishes to appoint a suitably experienced organisation to commission a study into the likely impacts of rural development/agricultural legislation (Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill) and subsequent policy guidance on the economy and community well-being of the islands within the 3 Local Authority areas. Based on the findings, the study will then identify and quantify the risks and opportunities, and make recommendations about how interventions at a national, regional and local level could be used most effectively to encourage efficient land-use and promote rural development to mitigate any envisaged challenges in line with new policy aims. This will be achieved by identifying both overarching trends relevant in all three Islands Authorities and by analysing the unique situation of each island and island group.