Members of the Crofting Commission are to be allowed to select their next convener, the Scottish Government has confirmed.
It follows the resignation of Susan Walker from the chair of the statutory body which regulates crofting, having lost the support of a majority of the commissioners.
Mrs Walker, who is married to a Skye crofter, was one of the three commissioners appointed by Scottish ministers and civil servants to the Crofting Commission which came into existence in April 2012. The remaining six were directly elected by crofters.
Crofting Minister Aileen McLeod, met the remaining commissioners to discuss the situation. She has now written to Holyrood's rural affairs committee saying she is content with the commission's proposal that, on this occasion, the selection of convener be delegated to them - one of the options allowed under crofting legislation.
She said:
"When I met with the Crofting Commission last month I said that I wanted to work constructively and collaboratively with them - so I am very pleased to support their proposal on the selection of a new convener.
"As this vacancy falls in-term, it makes sense to allow the commissioners to elect their own convener from within the existing team. This will involve the use of a secret ballot overseen by the Crofting Commission's Chief Executive, with the successful candidate taking up the post of convener until March 31, 2017, covering the remaining tenure for the current board."
She said it had also proposed to continue with the remaining complement of eight commissioners and the workload being shared amongst them.
"I am also minded to accept that advice, "she said.
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