Appointment of Shadow Chairing Member of Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management)

The Cabinet Secretary for the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, Roseanna Cunningham MSP today announced the appointment of Amanda Bryan, as Shadow Chairing Member of Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management) from 1 December 2016. The Cabinet Secretary said:

“We are delighted to have secured the services of Amanda Bryan as Shadow Chairing Member of the Crown Estate in Scotland. Amanda brings extensive experience in rural and community development and will be a real asset to the organisation during the interim management period.  I look forward to working with her as we take responsibility for the Crown Estate in Scotland from April 2017.”

Amanda Bryan is an experienced chair, non-executive director and rural development practitioner based in the Highlands, near Beauly. Having grown up in Caithness, she has also lived in both Orkney and the Western Isles.  She is a Chartered Forester with further qualifications in marine resource management and electrical and electronic engineering all of which are relevant to the work of the Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management) body.  Amanda has extensive experience in rural and community development and stakeholder engagement and has worked across rural Scotland including most of the islands.  She currently holds two other public appointments as Forestry Commissioner for Scotland, chairing FC’s National Committee for Scotland and a Board Member for Highlands and Islands Enterprise.  Amanda is also Chair of the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust and a Member of OFCOM’s Advisory Committee for Scotland.

Appointment

The shadow appointment will run from 1 December 2016 until the commencement date of the Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management) Order 2017 - with formal responsibilities beginning on 1 April 2017.  The expected time commitment from 1 April 2017 will be up to 42 days per year.  A fee of £346.00 per day is payable.

The appointment is regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.

Ministerial Appointments

Ms Bryan is currently a non-executive Member of the Board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise for which attract remuneration of £10,065 per annum for two days per month. Ms Bryan is also Forestry Commissioner for Scotland and Chair of the National Committee for Scotland.  She receives £14,723 per annum for a time commitment of three days per month.

Political Activity

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.

Ms Bryan has not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.

Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management)

The Scotland Act 2016 introduced a new era for the management of Crown assets in Scotland. The Crown Estate in Scotland includes a diverse portfolio of property, rights and interests that influence many aspects of rural and coastal life in Scotland.

This appointment presents a genuine opportunity to help shape the future arrangements of the Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management) and deliver added benefit for Scotland and its local communities.

A key goal in setting up the new arrangements is to optimise the economic development role of the underlying assets under the management of Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management).

Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management) is being established as a Public Corporation, directed by its Board, which will take on its asset management role from 1 April 2017 subject to parliamentary timescales for completing the transfer. The Chair’s focus is to contribute to a smooth transfer and ensure that the interim body provides stability and continuity of service to those who rely on existing Crown Estate leases or services as the management responsibilities are devolved to Scotland, particularly during the time needed for establishing a permanent framework.

Background:

Crown Estate (Scotland) Interim Management will be a body corporate which will be formally established under the Crown Estate Scotland (Interim Management) Order 2017 which, subject to the will of the Her Majesty in Council, will come into force on a future date.”