Nairnshire members agree allocation of Place-Based Investment Fund to address local Covid-harms within Ward 18, Nairn and Cawdor

Following the budget agreed by Highland Council in March 2021, a £100,000 Place-Based Investment Fund was allocated to each of the 21 Wards throughout the Highland region for the 2021/22 financial year.  This fund was designed to enable a flexible local response to address the four harms of Covid which are identified as:

• direct health harms;
• health impacts not directly related to Covid;
• societal impacts; and
• economic impacts.

Early discussions with local members at Ward-level were able to identify initial priority areas for spend against the Place-Based Investment Fund.

Members of yesterday’s Nairnshire Area Committee were presented with a report – reflecting the outcomes of earlier discussions that have taken place locally – summarising the proposed spending priorities for Ward 18.  Members agreed the allocations of the Place Based Investment Funds as follows: 

• Direct funding award to Green Hive to support the development of the Seaman’s Hall Community Hub Project (£25,000);
• Funding to support develop sustainable play provision (£10,000).

In addition, it was also agreed that sums would be ring-fenced for the following areas of work:

• The development of accessibility projects within the Ward led by the Nairn Access Panel – the main focus of this work is to develop wheelchair access to the beach and through portable ramps in town. (£10,000);
• Projects to improve health and wellbeing outcomes, to be led by the Community Partnership - £5,000.

Yesterday’s agreement will enable Green Hive and the Seaman’s Hall Trustees to proceed with their proposals to develop the current hall into a new community hub.  Their aim is to provide a wide range of activities, but also a route to opportunities to volunteer, escape isolation, skills development, preparation for work and for some, ultimately find employment.

The proposals agreed at today’s meeting allocate £35,000 of available funding, with £15,000 being ring-fenced.  A further report will be brought to Members to allocate the remaining funds during a future committee.  At the present time, key areas for development and consideration at a future meeting of local committee relate to motorhome infrastructure and support for the development of Town Centre projects.

Councillor Tom Heggie, Chair of the Nairnshire Committee, said:  “The allocation priorities agreed by members today were driven by a desire to invest in improved community facilities and refreshed and more accessible recreational areas for the local people of Nairn.  Once these projects and works are complete, I hope this will encourage greater use of outdoor space, deliver positive impacts on communities and address the wellbeing impacts triggered by Covid.”

-ends-