This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Funding to tackle poverty in rural areas
28/12/2005
Adult learning, community transport and recycling projects in rural areas are among services which could be improved through targeted funding, as part of the anti-poverty drive 'Closing the Opportunity Gap'.
Today £2.2 million pounds has been allocated to 22 Rural Service Priority Areas by way of their Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs) for improvements to rural services in some of the most disadvantaged rural areas.
Each Community Planning Partnership will identify the services that they want to improve in their area and each Rural Service Priority Area will have £100,000 to develop new projects.
The Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie said:
"The Executive is committed to tackling disadvantage and improving services in rural areas. Improving access to services is vital in maintaining vibrant and viable rural communities.
"Through working closely with CPPs we will deliver visible improvements to each priority area which will deliver real benefits for rural Scotland.
"By encouraging networking and sharing of best practice between RSPAs and CPPs, we are also helping to ensure successful delivery now and across rural Scotland in future."
Community Planning Partnerships and their proposed funds:
Angus - 1 RSPA - £100,000
Argyll and Bute - 2 RSPA - £200,000
Dumfries and Galloway - 5 RSPAs - £500,000
East Ayrshire - 3 RSPAs - £300,000
Highland - 3 RSPAs - £300,000
Orkney - 1 RSPA - £100,000
South Ayrshire - 2 RSPAs - £200,000
Western Isles - 5 RSPAs - £500,000
Total - 22 RSPAs - £2,200,000
Discussions are being held with Community Planning Partnerships to agree the priority services for improvement, with targets to be agreed by end March 2006.
The Rural Development Minister designated an additional two Rural Services Priority Areas (RSPAs) as a result of consultation with Community Planning Partnerships (CPPs). These join 20 RSPAs announced in January 2005. The additional areas are Catrine, East Ayrshire and Jura, Colonsay & Islay in Argyll & Bute.
The designation of RSPA status enables government, local authorities and other partner agencies to focus improvements on services in these communities. Discussions are currently ongoing with CPPs to identify local service priorities and set targets for real improvements in services across rural Scotland.