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