Crofting Commission Publication Scheme

Outline
The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (FOISA) requires Scottish public authorities to produce and maintain a publication scheme. Authorities are under a legal obligation to:

1. Publish the classes of information that they make routinely available; and
2. Tell the public how to access the information and whether information is available free of charge or if a payment is due what charges will be applied.
   
   The Crofting Commission adopted the Model Publication Scheme produced by the Scottish Information Commissioner (SIC) and received approval on 05 May 2015.
   You can find information about the Model Publication scheme on the SIC’s website by clicking on this link.
   
   The purpose of this Guide to Information is to:
   • allow you to see what information is available (and what is not), in relation to each class;
   • state what charges may be applied;
   • explain how to find the information easily;
   • provide contact details for enquiries and getting help with accessing the information;
   • explain how to request the information we hold where this has not been published.
   
   Availability And Formats
   The information we publish under the Model Publication Scheme arrangement is, wherever possible, available on our website. We offer alternative arrangements for people who do not want to, or cannot, access the information from our website or by inspection at our premises, on request. For example, we can arrange for the information to be sent as a paper copy. However, there may be a charge for this.
   
   Exempt Information
   We will publish the information we hold that falls within the classes of information below. If a document contains information that is exempt under Scotland’s freedom of information laws (for example sensitive personal information or a trade secret), we may remove or redact the information before publication, but we will explain why. 
   If the information you want is not in our publication scheme, you have the right to request it from us. FOISA gives you a right of access to the information we hold (whether we publish it or not), subject to certain exemptions. Find out more about how to make an information request to the Crofting Commission.
   
   Copyright
   Where we hold the copyright in our published information, the information may be copied or reproduced without formal permission, provided that:
   • it is copied or reproduced accurately
   • it is not used in a misleading context, and
   • the source of the material is identified
   Where we do not hold the copyright in information we publish, we will make this clear.
   
   Charges
   This section explains when we may make a charge for our publications and how any charge will be calculated.
   There is no charge to view information on our website or at our premises and the Commission does not pass on any other costs to you in relation to our published information. For more detailed information can be found at Appendix 1.
   
   Contact Us
   You can contact us for assistance with any aspect of this publication scheme.
   Write to:
   Compliance Hub,
   Crofting Commission,
   Great Glen House,
   Leachkin Road,
   Inverness, IV3 8NW
   
   E-mail: compliancehub@crofting.gov.scot
   Call: 01463 663 439
   
   We will also advise you how to ask for information that we do not publish routinely or how to complain if you are dissatisfied with any aspect of this publication scheme.
   
   Classification Of Information Published
   We publish information that we hold within the following classes. Once information is published under a class we will continue to make it available for the current and previous two financial years (where possible). Where information has been updated or superseded, only the current version will be available. If you would like to see previous versions, you are welcome to make a request to us for that information.
   
   Class 1: About us
   Class 2: How we deliver our functions and services
   Class 3: How we take decisions and what we have decided
   Class 4: What we spend and how we spend it
   Class 5: How we manage our human, physical and information resources
   Class 6: How we procure goods and services from external providers
   Class 7: How we are performing
   Class 8: Our commercial publications
   Class 9: Our open data

Class 1: About Us
Information about the Commission, who we are, where to find us, how to contact us, how we are managed and our external relations

General Information about the Commission
The Crofting Commission regulates and promotes the interests of crofting in Scotland.
Address: Crofting Commission,
Great Glen House,
Leachkin Road,
Inverness, IV3 8NW

E-mail: info@crofting.gov.scot
Call: 01463 663 439
Website: www.crofting.scotland.gov.uk

Office Opening Hours: 09:00 to 16:30 Monday to Thursday 09:00 to 16:00 Friday
Please note that any Public Holidays are highlighted on our website Home page and social media during the days the office is closed.

Who We Are
The Commission comprises of six Crofting Commissioners elected from geographic areas in the crofting counties, and three Commissioners appointed by the Scottish Government. The Chair is appointed by Scottish Ministers. The Commission is supported by a staff of over 70, led by a Chief Executive.

Senior Management Team
Details about the Commission’s Senior Management Team can be found at our Leadership Team page on the Crofting Commission website.

Privacy Notice
The Crofting Commission takes the protection of your privacy seriously. To safeguard your personal data and make sure that it is accurate, we only collect and/or store the data necessary to carry out our functions as a regulatory body. You can find a copy of our Privacy Notice on our website.

Customer Care – Standards of Service
We believe our customers should always receive the highest standards of service in an efficient, open and accountable way. Details of the standards of service you can expect from us can be found on our website.

Complaints
The Crofting Commission is committed to providing high-quality customer services. We value complaints and use information from them to help us improve our services.
Detailed guidance notes describe our complaints procedure, how to make a complaint and what a complaint is available on our website.
If you are dissatisfied with our services, please tell us by emailing our complaints team at complaints@crofting.gov.scot or by sending a letter to our postal address.

Requests for Information
For details on requesting information please see the information on our Access to Information page on the Crofting Commission website.
• Freedom of Information Requests.
• Environmental Requests.
• Personal Data Requests.
You will find our guidance on vexatious or repeated requests on our website.

How the Commission is Run
Board of Commissioners
The Crofting Commission is led by a board of up to nine commissioners. They are responsible for setting policies, deciding on difficult applications, and helping to plan the future of crofting.
• Six commissioners are elected by crofters
• Up to three commissioners are appointed by Scottish Ministers

What do they do?
Commissioners work part time. The chair earns £24,787 a year for working 8 days a month. Other commissioners earn £10,812 a year for working 4.5 days a month.
All commissioners must follow a code of conduct and attend board meetings about every eight weeks
To make our work more efficient, commissioners have approved a scheme of delegation. This lets staff handle most decisions, making processes faster and more consistent.

Register of Interests
The Registers of Interests can be found by viewing each of the Crofting Commissioner’s Profiles on the Crofting Commission website.

Executive Team
Details about the Commission’s Leadership Team can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Code of Conduct
The Crofting Commission’s Code of Conduct can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Policy Plan
Full details of our most recent policy plan can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Corporate Planning
The Crofting Commission’s business and corporate plans can be found on our website.

Accountability
The Crofting Commission is accountable to the Scottish Government (SG). The Framework document which been drawn up by the SG in consultation with the Commission, sets out the broad framework within which the Commission will operate and defines key roles and responsibilities which underpin the relationship between the Crofting Commission and the SG. A copy of the Framework document can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Internal and External Audit
Our internal auditors are Scott-Moncrieff and our external auditors are Deloitte LLP.

Anti-Fraud Policy
It is the Crofting Commission’s policy to conduct all business in an honest and ethical manner. The Commission has a zero-tolerance approach to fraud, bribery and corruption in any form, recognising that these are contrary to its fundamental values. Details of the Crofting Commission’s Anti-Fraud Policy can be found at the Crofting Commission website.

Class 2: How We Deliver Our Functions and Services
Information about our work, our strategy and policies for delivering functions and services and information for our service users.

Our Enabling Legislation
The constitution, powers and duties of the Crofting Commission are set out in The Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 as amended by the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2007, the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 and the Crofting (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2013. The Commission produced a document which combines all the aforementioned Acts and highlight’s each through different colours, a copy can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Law, Policy and Rules of Procedure
The Commission under Section 2C of the Crofting Reform (Scotland) Act 2010 submitted a Policy Plan in September 2022 to the Scottish Ministers setting out its policy on how it proposes to exercise its functions. A copy of the Policy Plan can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Application Forms & Guidance
Details of the Crofting Commission’s application forms, guidance notes and factsheets can be found on the Crofting Commission website:
• Applications and notifications
• Appointment of Grazings Committees
• Use of Common Grazings for other purposes

Register of Crofts (RoC)
The Register of Crofts is a public list of crofts which contains basic information about the croft and the people associated with it. Please note that some crofts are simply grazings shares that do not have in-bye croft land associated with them. There are just over 20,500 crofts entered on the Commission’s RoC of which around 72% are tenanted and the remainder are owned. The RoC can be viewed on the Crofting Commission website.

Gaelic Language Plan
The Crofting Commission has a commitment to the National Gaelic Language Plan and the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005. A copy of our Gaelic Language Plan can be found on the Crofting Commission website.
The Commission’s plan sets out a formal structure for our support of the Gaelic language, with new initiatives and clear targets and there is a strong commitment throughout the Commission to see Gaelic thrive.

Requesting Information
For details on requesting information from the Commission go to section ‘Requests for Information’.

Complaints
Statistics on the number of complaints received and the outcome of these can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Freedom of Information / Environment Information
Information on requests made to the Commission and the responses issued can be found on the Crofting
Commission website.
Statistics on the number of requests and their outcomes are uploaded to the FOI Commissioners website on quarterly basis and can be found on the Information Commissioners website.

Annual Report
Details of the Crofting Commission’s Annual Reports can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Press Releases
Information on the Commission’s press releases can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Crofting Register
The Crofting Register is map based and provides a definitive record of the extent of, and interest in, land within crofting tenure in Scotland. In addition to showing the boundaries of land, the register also contains information on the crofter, owner-occupier crofter and/or the landlord of the registered croft. The Crofting Register is maintained by the Keeper of the Registers of Scotland, although the application for registration is made in the first instance to the Crofting Commission who will check the information contained in or accompanying the registration application against the information contained in the Commission’s Register of Crofts (RoC).

Class 3: How The We Take Decisions and What We Have Decided
Information about the decisions we take, how we make decisions and how we involve others.
• Details on ‘Our Enabling Legislation’ can be found on the Crofting Commission website.
• Details on ‘Law, Policy and Rules of Procedure’ can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Decisions
Information on how the Commission makes can be found on the Crofting Commission website.
Scheme of Delegation
Details of the Commission’s Scheme of Delegation can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Board Meetings
These are held in public and the minutes of the Board Meetings can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Consultations
The Crofting Commission is responsible for reviewing all matters related to crofting. As part of this work, we respond to public consultations on topics like:
• Planning
• Environmental issues
• Housing
• Local development plans.

Class 4: What We Spend and How We Spend It
Information about our strategy for, and management of, financial resources (in sufficient detail to explain how we plan to spend public money and what has actually been spent).

Annual Accounts
This information is incorporated into the Crofting Commission Annual Report, which can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Finance Guidance
Information on the Scottish Public Finance Manual is available on the Scottish Government website.

Financial Roles and Responsibilities
Details on the financial roles and responsibilities between the Crofting Commission and the Scottish Government can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Expenditure
Information on the Commission’s expenditure on Public Relations, Overseas Travel, Hospitality & Entertainment and External Consultancy can be found on the Crofting Commission website:
• Public Sector Guidance
• Purchase Cards

Commissioners Remuneration
Details about Commissioners renumeration can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Class 5: How We Manage Our Human, Physical and Information Resources
Information about how we manage the human, physical and information resources of the authority.

Anti-Fraud Policy
Details on the Commission’s Anti-Fraud Policy can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

HR Strategy
Information on the Scottish Government’s HR Strategy; Diversity in the Scottish Government and Dignity at Work Policy and Managing Attendance Guide is accessible on the Scottish Government’s website.
Trade Union Facility Time
Crofting Commission staff are civil servants directly employed by the Scottish Government and seconded to the Crofting Commission. Crofting Commission trade union representative(s) facility time is therefore contained within the Scottish Government disclosure which can be viewed on the Scottish Government’s website.

Health & Safety Policy
The Crofting Commission Offices are located within Great Glen House, Inverness and are subject to the Health and Safety Policy which NatureScot operate for that location on behalf of all occupants.

Remote and Lone Working
A copy of the Commission’s policy is available on request.
Information Resources

Records Management Plan
A copy of the Commission’s Records Management Plan is available on request.

Freedom of Information / Environmental Information
A copy of the Commission’s procedure/guidance is available on request.

Data Protection
The Data Protection law gives you the right to know what information is held about you and sets out rules to make sure the information is handled properly. A copy of the Crofting Commission’s Data Protection Policy can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Register of Crofts (RoC)
Information on the Register of Crofts can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Research Publications
The Crofting Commission is responsible for reviewing matters related to crofting. All data and research that we have undertaken or commissioned is available on the Crofting Commission website.

Class 6: How We Procure Goods and Services from External Providers
Information about how we procure works, goods, and services, and our contracts with external providers.

Procurement Policy
The Crofting Commissions has adopted policy guidelines that apply to core Government Departments. These can be accessed on the Scottish Government’s website.

Register of Contracts Awarded
Information on contracts awarded by the Commission can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Financial Management
Information on the Financial Management of the Commission can be found at:
• Financial Management
• Framework Document

Audit and Finance Committee
A copy of the Audit and Finance Committees Terms of Reference can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Class 7: How We Are Preforming
Information about how we preform as an organisation, and how well we deliver our functions and services.

Annual Report
Details of the Crofting Commission’s Annual Reports can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Key Performance Indicators
Details on the Crofting Commission’s Performance Indicators are available on request.

Equality and Diversity Plan
Details on the Commission’s Equality and Diversity Plan can be found on the Crofting Commission website.

Class 8: Our Commercial Publications
Information packaged and made available for sale on a commercial basis and sold at market value through a retail outlet e.g. bookshop, museum or research journal.
• Please note that the Crofting Commission does not hold or publish any information under this class.

Class 9: Our Open Data
The Scottish Government’s Open Data Strategy recognises the value of data and responsibly makes use of data to improve public services and deliver wider societal and economic benefits for all.
In line with this strategy, the Crofting Commission will seek to make data available in formats which allow it to be easily re-used and shared.
The full data set for our Register of Crofts, which is a public list of crofts and the people associated with them, is available to download on the Crofting Commission website. If you wish to access data or information on an individual croft you may find the information more readily accessible via our RoC Online.

Appendix 1
Schedule of charges
There are 3 types of requests that the Commission receives and deals with:

1. Straightforward requests which take less than a day to process (these will be processed free of charge);
2. Larger or more complex requests, where we will give you an estimate of the cost that you will have to pay before we provide the information;
3. Very large requests which we may not be able to process.

This schedule covers the current rates used by the Commission for providing information under specific request:

We are pleased to provide advice and assistance to help requesters frame their requests to reduce the possibility of charges for information.

The Crofting Commission’s Policy on Charging for Information can be found at this link.

Click the button below to download this full publication scheme in PDF format.