Annex A - Letter of Engagement

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28 November 2022

Dear Angus,

Many thanks for your message of 14 November 2022 regarding the work you will be taking forward engaging with Local Communities to further progress the work relating to Ferry Governance as outlined in Project Neptune Report.

Firstly may I reiterate my thanks for you in taking on this role. Although clearly this is a separate role from your other appointments I was keen to appoint you on the basis of your experience as an island resident as well as your background in the Ferry Community Board and your roles in HIE and CNES.

Transport Scotland officials have been scoping out the next phase of consultation on Project Neptune and I copy below draft aims and remit for the work you will be leading on. We are still seeking to finalise resources to support you in your work and will confirm that shortly.

Aims of engagement with island communities:

  • Seek and collate the views of communities on the future options set out within the Project Neptune report published on 8 September 2022.
  • Highlight that this work will take time to deliver and require detailed consideration on the best model before a decision is taken
  • Make it clear to stakeholders that their views are important, and we welcome their views on future arrangements.
  • Whilst this consultation is focused on Project Neptune next steps, any views expressed on other areas regarding ferry services may be recorded and passed on to the appropriate team within Transport Scotland to inform future consultation - in particular on the Island Connectivity Plan and the next CHFS contract.
  • Production of a report outlining the outcomes from the consultation in order to help focus work. The target date for production of this report is end of February 2023 (although I would welcome your views on how achievable this is).

Scope of Work

  • Local Communities are defined as Ferry Committee Groups in Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Network, and other appropriate locally based groups and individuals including young people.
  • You will potentially have to rationalise the groups you engage with in the timeframe but would ask that you ensure you have a broad cross section in both geographic location and differing community interests.
  • The output from this work will include analysis of meeting outputs, responses to written communications and any other relevant issues raised. This will be provided in a report to Scottish Ministers. This report will be published at a suitable point.
  • Administration support will be provided by Transport Scotland officials which will include minute taking at meetings, venue and travel bookings.
  • You are free to discuss all options within the published Project Neptune report, but should be mindful and clear to participants that Scottish Ministers have already ruled out taking forward options around unbundling or privatisation of routes.
  • You are free to discuss interactions with other work streams within Ferries Unit, e.g. CHFS3, as long as you are clear that the remit of your engagement is Project Neptune.
  • A suitable recording and analysis regime for all engagement activities should be agreed and will be supported by Transport Scotland officials.

I trust this is aligned to your own views on how we progress matters relating to Project Neptune but would be grateful if you could provide any further views on these matters.

I would also like to meet with you to discuss this further in the next couple of weeks and will ask my private office to liaise for a suitable date and venue.

Yours sincerely

Jenny Gilruth