Highland Communicite Encouraged To Apply For Broadband Improvement Fund
4th July 2010
Highland Communities encourages to put forward projects for Broadband improvement funding
Rural communities across the Highlands are being encouraged to put forward bids for a share of a million Euro fund that could bring enhanced Broadband to their area including improved coverage and faster connections.
Following an announcement last week by the Scottish Government that funding was now available, The Highland Leader Programme is encouraging interested communities to make contact with their local LEADER representative to start the application process.
Convener of The Highland Council, Sandy Park said: "This is a great chance for rural areas to access the funds needed to bring their local Broadband service to the highest possible standard. Family usage of the Internet for research, studying, learning new skills and leisure is expanding and more and more local businesses are conducting transactions on-line. Where you live should not be a stumbling block to how you access these services.
"The aim of Highland LEADER is to enable people in the Highlands to realise their ambitions to live in communities where they can fulfil their personal, social and economic potential. Anything that will bring an increase to the capacity of local rural community and business networks is welcome so I would encourage people looking to make improvements to their Broadband connections to make contact with their local LEADER officer as soon as possible."
Bids will be considered by the Scottish Government in October so all applications from the Highlands should be completed and passed to Highland LEADER by Monday 6th September 2010
LEADER Development Manager Nicole Wallace said: "All projects put forward should be in keeping with the LEADER principles and should show that improved broadband access would have a positive impact. Due to the summer holidays there is not much time for applications to be made so I would urge any communities wishing to put forward a bid to contact their local LEADER Officer who will be able to give them help and advice. Full details on the application process are also available on our website - . http://www.highlandleader.com/. We will be collating all applications and then passing them to the Scottish Government who will ultimately be making the final decision in October."
Related Businesses
Related Articles
The first Highland-wide virtual jobs fair held last month has proved to be a hit with participants and businesses. The week-long virtual event, which was delivered by the Local Employability Partnership for the West - The Highland Council, Skills Development Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Department for Work and Pensions, Developing the Young Workforce and UHI North West and Hebrides was timed to coincide with Scottish Careers Week 2024.
The Service Centre will close at 5pm on Tuesday 24 December, re-opening on Friday 27 December (opening times 8am to 5pm). It will be closed on 1 and 2 January and open 8am to 5pm from Friday 3 January 2025.
Members have considered an update on the Council's medium term financial plan and the impact of the UK and Scottish Governments’ budgets on the coming year’s funding settlement. The position is currently looking more positive than initially planned for, however more detail needs to be worked through.
In November, The Highland Council launched a public statutory consultation to seek views on the proposed introduction of a Visitor Levy scheme across the Highlands. The Council has announced an extension to this consultation period, which will now give businesses, visitors and communities until 31 March 2025, an additional seven weeks, to take part and have their say.
In the light of the financial forecast for 2025-26, Highland Council is inviting you to tell us more in the budget preparation for the coming financial year. The budget engagement builds on extensive budget participation which took place in the winter of 2023-24.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Every year Highland Council invites all tenants to have their say on the rent levels for the following year. The Council encourages everyone that lives in a council house to take this chance to have their say.
Communities and Place Committee met yesterday (Wednesday 27 November 2024) and Members agreed the Highland Local Child Poverty Action Report which includes actions for delivery in 2024/25. Reducing child poverty is a priority for the Council and its partners.
The information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Members of the Highland Council's Community and Place Committee have given their support to an action plan focusing on the operating of public conveniences over the next 10 years. Whilst not a statutory function, the Council is the main provider of public conveniences located throughout Highland, operating 74 sites.
