The 1974 Zetland and Orkney County Council Acts laid the foundation for the islands’ relationship with North Sea Oil. They granted powers for local council control and environmental protection and set up the reserve funds for the community with a share of oil revenues. But how did the UK’s tiniest councils convince a busy Westminster 50 years ago to give them powers beyond those of any other UK local authority?

Dr Tim Noble of Heriot-Watt University’s International Centre for Island Technology worked with the oil construction on Flotta and Shetland in the 1970s. He recalls the excitement of the times and examines the parliamentary case made for the Acts. Could the same approach, he asks, help with energy developments today?

The talk will be chaired by the Director of ICIT, Dr Sandy Kerr.