Islands Forum (United Kingdom)

Islands Forum

Formation	September 2022;2 years ago (2022-09)
Purpose	Forum for leaders of local governments of island communities in the United Kingdom
Region served	United Kingdom

The Islands Forum is a body in the United Kingdom that brings together local government leaders from island communities with ministers from the UK Government, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government, and the Northern Ireland Executive. It met for the first time in September 2022. ^{[1] [2]}

Background

The Island Forum was proposed In 2022, as part of the Levelling Up White Paper to allow local policymakers and residents of island communities to work together on common issues, such as broadband connectivity, and provide a platform for them to communicate directly with the UK central government on the challenges island communities face in terms of the levelling up agenda. ^{[3] [4]}

Members

The following governments, local authorities and organisations are members of the Islands Forum: ^{[5] [6]}

United Kingdom

• UK Government

England

• Isle of Wight Council
• Council of the Isles of Scilly

Scotland

• Scottish Government
• Argyll and Bute Council
• Highland Council
• North Ayrshire Council
• Orkney Islands Council
• Shetland Islands Council
• Western Isles Council

Wales

• Welsh Government
• Isle of Anglesey County Council

Northern Ireland

• Northern Ireland Executive
• Rathlin Development and Community Association

Meetings

The forum meets twice each year:

Meetings of the Islands Forum
Date	Location	Chair
September 2022	Orkney Islands [1] [7]	Nadhim Zahawi
May 2023	Isle of Wight [8] [9]	Michael Gove
10 October 2023	Western Isles [10]	Michael Gove
7-8 May 2024	Anglesey [5] [11] [12]	Michael Gove
Autumn 2024	Argyll and Bute [5]	TBA

See also

• Intergovernmental relations in the United Kingdom
• Local Government Leaders' Council

References

1. "Orkney to host first UK-wide Islands Forum meeting". guernseypress.com. June 28, 2022.
2. "Intergovernmental Relations Annual Report 2022". GOV.UK.
3. Cope, Chris (3 February 2021). "New islands forum should not be 'box ticking exercise'". The Shetland News . Retrieved 17 February 2022.
4. Paveley, Rebecca (11 February 2021). "Gove announces Levelling-up forum for islands". Church Times . Retrieved 17 February 2022.
5. "4th Islands Forum opens up collaboration on housing for islands". GOV.UK.
6. "Levelling Up Secretary meeting UK island leaders on housing | Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities". www.wired-gov.net. Retrieved 2024-10-20.
7. "Nadhim Zahawi: British islands will be at the heart of levelling up". guernseypress.com. September 27, 2022.
8. "Isle of Wight to host Islands Forum next month". Isle of Wight Council.
9. Jones, Polly (April 25, 2023). "Second Islands Forum to level up island communities". Government Business.
10. "New group to consider transport links agreed at Islands Forum". GOV.UK.
11. "Gove to meet UK island leaders to discuss housing". Inside Housing.
12. Favorido, Niki (May 8, 2024). "Ynys Môn delighted to host Islands Forum".