SCOTLAND's three islands councils are seeking significant new powers following the 2014 referendum – regardless of the result.
In anticipation of the Scottish Parliament getting more powers even if the country votes no to inde- pendence, council leaders in the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland are looking to enhance their decision- making capacity.
Leaders have been examining similar authorities on the Isle of Man and the Faroe Islands and are preparing a "menu of interests" to present to both the pro-independence and pro-union campaigns to establish which offers greater control of their own island affairs and resources.
This document should be ready in the early summer.
The three Independent-controlled councils will discuss their plans at the Convention of the Highlands and Islands in Lerwick today.
Angus Campbell, leader of the Western Isles Council, said the local authority had long campaigned for the control of the sea bed to be devolved to a local level.
He said: "We would like to see which camp would help us solve that problem."
However, he said one of the first demands would be that the three island authorities remain intact.
Shetland Islands Council convener Malcolm Bell said: "We are unique both culturally and geographically and our interests will be best served by local people taking local decisions at a local level."
Meanwhile, Orkney Islands Council convener Steven Heddle said : "We looked at the constitutional models adopted by the Isle of Man, the Faroe Islands and other island communities – and the lessons we can learn from them. We con-sidered the existing requirement for the Scottish Government to 'island proof' new legislation – and whether this needs to be beefed up in future."
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