Explanatory note

The Abolition of Domestic Rates etc (Scotland) Act 1987 abolished domestic rates from 1st April 1989 and in consequence domestic properties were by section 2 deleted from the Valuation Roll. This limited the class of persons from whom members of the Commission could be nominated by the Stornoway Trust or elected under section 5 of the Stornoway Harbour Order 1976. The introduction of the council tax under the Local Government Finance Act 1992 did not restore domestic properties to the Valuation Roll and, accordingly, the position remains that only persons who are proprietors of business properties are now qualified to be nominated or elected. This Order provides that in place of the restriction to ratepayers the qualification is extended so that all those who are resident within the burgh shall be entitled to be so nominated or elected (as the case may be) provided that they are of voting age and registered on the register for the time being of local government electors for an electoral division (or on and after 1st April 1996 an electoral ward) comprised within the burgh.

The applicant for this Order is the Stornoway Pier and Harbour Commission.