Council offers Easter Ross halls to communities
Six communities in Easter Ross are being given the chance to take over halls currently in the ownership and operation of The Highland Council.
The halls in question are: Diamond Jubilee Hall, Evanton; Fearn; Milnafua, Alness; Perrins Centre, Alness; Saltburn; and Polnicol Hall, Delny.
To identify interest in possible community ownership, the Council is organising a series of local public meetings, all of which start at 7.30pm. They are:
• Saltburn Hall - Monday 18 August;
• Fearn Hall - Tuesday 19 August;
• Diamond Jublilee Hall, Evanton - Wednesday 20 August;
• Milnafua Hall - Tuesday 26 August;
• Perrins Centre, Alness - Tuesday 2 September; and
• Polnicol Hall - Wednesday 3 September.
The meetings will be facilitated by Peter Hoffmann, Senior Community Learning & Leisure Officer with the Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Service. Communities are being invited to notify the Council by November if they are interested in taking over ownership.
Anyone who is interested about finding out more but is unable to attend a meeting at the set time and date can contact Peter Hoffmann on tel: (01349) 860989 or email: peter.hoffmann@highland.gov.uk.
The Council is reviewing its role in community hall ownership and management in an attempt to equalise the level of support it gives to Highland communities to run local halls, 90% of which are independently owned and run by local communities.
The process includes offering Council owned halls to communities and increasing the annual grant to independent halls by 25% - up to a maximum of £1,000 per year.
For further information please contact: Peter Hoffmann, Senior Community Learning & Leisure Officer with the Council’s Education, Culture and Sport Service tel: (01349) 860989 or email: peter.hoffmann@highland.gov.uk.
Notes to editors:
At The Highland Council meeting on 14 Feb 2008 – Committee Report HC/47/07 Booklet B, ECS Efficiencies and Savings No 25 – the Council agreed to equalisation of funding arrangement for village halls and a ‘Scheme of Revenue Support Grants for Halls’.