Environment cabinet secretary announced that money which is available to Scottish local authorities from the Scottish Crown Estate would now be available to them to support struggling businesses and organisations. This money amounts to ?7.2 million – in a Scottish Crown Estate-derived fund which is devolved to councils.
This would be in addition to the ?2.2 billion package of business support already announced by the Scottish Government.
Environment and climate change secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: ?Given the unprecedented pressures which businesses are currently facing as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are doing everything we can to support them.
?Following discussions with Cosla we have written to local authorities to encourage them to look at ways they can use these funds, where required, to help hard-pressed businesses and organisations to get through this challenging period.?
Councillor Steven Heddle, Cosla?s environment and economy spokesman, said: ?This is a timely reminder that councils play a key role in supporting local businesses and their coastal communities, especially in these exceptionally challenging times, and that there is scope for funding from Crown Estate net revenues to contribute to this.
?I also welcome the Scottish Government’s intention to ensure that the next tranche of funding is distributed as swiftly as possible to local authorities this year as joint work progresses on the longer-term review to develop an appropriate approach for the future distribution methodology.?
This story is largely taken from the Ross-shire Journal on 13th April:
https://www.ross-shirejournal.co.uk/news/support-for-coastal-businesses-during-coronavirus-pandemic-196578/
We will bring further details of how businesses and local organisations can apply for this money as soon as we get them here in UCT. Highland Council would be the relevant local authority for disbursing such money for Wester Ross.
BO’H
13th April 2020