Common Good Funds
Common Good Funds are locally held funds generated from the use of Common Good assets, such as income from rents, leases, or other asset-related activities. These assets originally belonged to Scotland’s historic former Burghs and are now owned by local authorities, who manage them for the benefit of the relevant local community.
Each Common Good Fund is separate and specific to its former Burgh, ensuring that income generated is retained and reinvested locally.
In Highland, the Council manages 13 Common Good Funds. These vary in size and income depending on the nature and value of the assets held within each Common Good Asset Register.
How funds are used in Highland
In Highland, the Council applies a structured approach to managing Common Good Funds:
- Priority is given to essential expenditure, ensuring that Common Good assets are properly maintained and protected.
- Surplus funds are then used for:
- non-essential improvements to enhance assets
- investment opportunities to help grow the fund
- Community grants and local initiatives
Income generated through Common Good assets is therefore used to support the ongoing stewardship of assets, and where possible, provide funding to a wide range of community projects.
Common Good Funds play an important role in supporting community wellbeing, preserving local heritage, and ensuring long-term benefit for future generations.
Common Good Funds in Highland
Information on how these funds are managed is reported quarterly to the relevant Area Committee, ensuring transparency and local oversight.
Each year, where a fund is active, a budget-setting process is undertaken and approved at Committee. This process:
- Sets income projections for the year ahead
- Agrees a maintenance budget for the upkeep of Common Good assets
- Helps determine whether there are surplus funds available to support community projects and local initiatives
The Community Development Team, in consultation with Elected Members, manages the budget and supports the effective delivery of fund priorities.
The following areas are former Burghs within Highland that each hold a Common Good Fund.
- Cromarty
- Dingwall
- Dornoch
- Fortrose and Rosemarkie
- Fort William
- Grantown
- Invergordon
- Inverness
- Kingussie
- Nairn
- Tain
- Thurso
- Wick