18th November 2020
The Highland Council is today (17 November 2020) launching a consultation giving the community until 12 March 2021 to comment on the proposed contents of the Common Good Fund Asset Register for Wick.
The Highland Council does not currently hold a Common Good Fund for the former Royal Burgh of Wick. However, following an unrelated title examination, property was identified that should have been correctly categorised as Common Good.
As a result, a full and detailed investigation has been undertaken into other property titles that may also be Common Good in Wick and a list of potential Common Good property has been developed.
Section 102 Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015 states that before establishing a Common Good Asset Register the Council must first conduct a public consultation on a list of property (buildings, land, artwork, regalia and funds) it is proposing to include. The statutory consultation should run for a period of 12 weeks however, the Council is extending this to 16 weeks due to the current Covid restrictions.
The Council is keen to involve the community in this process to ensure that all Wick Common Good property is identified and included. The Community Council and community bodies will be notified and invited to make representations.
However, the list will be widely publicised and available for public representations to be made. The Council must investigate and respond to any representations received. Representations, responses and any final decision will be published on the Council website. Local authorities must also have in place a process for regular review of the Asset Register once published.
The list of property proposed to be included in the Common Good Asset Register for Wick.
Further information on the process required to establish and review the Common Good Asset Register can be found here on the Council website.
Please submit written responses either by email to commongood@highland.gov.uk or by post to Sara Murdoch, The Highland Council HQ, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX.
