Public input for future LEADER funding in Highland

The Council will be running a series of public consultation events across the Highlands to give communities the chance to pass on their views on how the new 2014-2020 LEADER Development strategy could support local development over the coming years.  

Feedback from the public sessions will be used to prepare a strategy which has to be submitted to the Scottish Government for approval in September this year, in order to secure funds for the new programme.  

The first event takes place next Tuesday (17 June) in Portree with other events running until 2 July in Dornie, Kinlochewe, Durness, Thurso, Golspie, Tain, Alness, Dingwall, Fortrose, Caol, Fort William, Inverness and  Nairn.  

Chairman of The Highland Council’s Planning, Development and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Thomas Prag said:  “One of the key principles behind LEADER is to have decisions made on grant awards at as local a level as possible, to reflect the differing needs and priorities of communities throughout Highland.  Therefore this opportunity for communities to give us feedback and an idea of how they see LEADER being able to support future developments at this stage of preparation is a good way to ensure we capture important information.”  

The public consultation events are as follows:  

  • Tuesday 17 June               
    Tigh na Sgire, Portree 3-5pm & 7-9pm
  • Wednesday 18 June
    Dornie & District Comm Hall 2.30-4.30pm
    Kinlochewe Village Hall 7-9pm 
  • Thursday 19 June
    Durness Village Hall 3-5pm & 7-9pm 
  • Monday 23 June
    Tain Parish Church Hall 3-5pm & 7-9pm
    Nairn Courthouse 3-5pm & 7-9pm 
  • Tuesday 24 June
    Perrins Centre, Alness 3-5pm & 7-9pm
    Council Offices, Dingwall 3-5pm & 7-9pm
  • Wednesday 25 June          
    Caol Community Centre 3-5pm
    Lochaber House, Fort William 7-9pm
    Fortrose Town Hall 3-5pm & 7-9pm
  • Monday 30 June
    Fountain Rd Church Hall, Golspie 3-5pm & 7-9pm
    Netley Centre, Inverness 3-5pm
    Waterside Hotel, Inverness 7-9pm
  • Wednesday 2 July
    Pentland Hotel, Thurso 3-5pm & 7-9pm

The last LEADER programme in the Highlands saw £14.7 million of grant funding being awarded to over 360 community projects.

Information about all of these events is available by visiting http://www.highlandleader.com/ or you can contact the LEADER team directly on 01463 702 548 for further information.

 

ENDS

 

11 Jun 2014