Councillors Agree Funding For 2023/24 Inverness Area Winter Payment Scheme

5th June 2023

£0.2m Inverness Common Good Funding will be used to help people most at need to heat their homes this winter in the Inverness area.

Members of The Highland Council's City of Inverness Area Committee have agreed to provide a Winter Discretionary Payments Scheme for eligible people in the Inverness area for 2023/24.

Inverness Common Good Funding can only be used to principally benefit people living within the geographic area of the former Burgh of Inverness.

The well-subscribed scheme which is fully funded by the Inverness Common Fund will be available to eligible people within the 7 specified Inverness Wards of Aird and Loch Ness, Inverness West, Inverness Central, Inverness Ness-side, Inverness Millburn, Culloden and Ardersier and Inverness South.

At the City of Inverness Area Committee held on 4 November 2022, Members agreed to a one-off increase to the single tier payment for eligible applicants to £150 using a predicted underspend in the Inverness Common Good at that time.

For the 2023/24 Winter Payment Councillors agreed an award of £106 for eligible applicants in 2023/24.

Leader of Inverness and Area Cllr Ian Brown said: "Last year in 2022/23 1,694 households received payments from the Inverness Area Winter Payments Scheme. These payments, and other packages of financial support are a lifeline for many individuals.

"The Winter Payment of £106 for those eligible will have a positive impact on individuals struggling financially and to people receiving disability benefits, who are also more likely to be negatively impacted by increased costs of living."

Applications will open and be accepted from 1 December 2023 to 29 February 2024 dates inclusive.

New applications for this winter's scheme will be accepted from 1 December 2023 to 29 February 2024 (inclusive). The Council will undertake further promotion for the 2023/24 Inverness Winter Discretionary Payments Scheme in due course.

The Worrying About Money? guide covers information for people waiting for claims to be assessed as well as those already receiving benefits. Topics including advice on what to do if anyone finds themselves having a sudden loss of income or if their statutory sick pay does not cover their living expenses. There is also information on how to apply to the Scottish Welfare Fund, maximising income and benefit advice, debt advice and how to challenge a decision.

Alternatively, The Welfare Support Team provide free, impartial and confidential support to claim all benefits and entitlements. Contact the Welfare Support Team by: phone 0800 090 1004 or; email welfare.support@highland.gov.uk

Members also agreed a Motion by Councillor David Gregg that: "This committee agrees to re-review the Inverness Winter Payment Scheme at its meeting in November 20th to look at repurposing any underspend in the Inverness Common Good Fund into an increased payment award for the Inverness Winter Payment Scheme as done in the previous 2 years."

Note
Read about the Common Good funds in Highland at -
https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/677/council_and_government_grants/355/common_good_funds

Inverness Common Good fund is one of the wealthiest with rent from property such as the Victorian Market. It regularly funds events and pays for a wide range of things in Inverness. It is completely separate from Highland Council funding but many people are confused as councillors are also trustees of the fund and make decisions on spending - all of which has to be in Inverness.

Andy Wightman Guide to Common Good funds in Scotland at
http://www.andywightman.com/docs/commongoodguide_v6.pdf

‘Welcoming' Foodhall in Victorian Market provides a ‘quality food experience’
Refurbishment and promotion of a market and fish hall into a foodhall has seen a steady increase in customers to the Victorian Market in Inverness.

A report to The Highland Council’s City of Inverness Area Committee states: "The Foodhall has created a modern open plan market with extended opening hours that people are beginning to treat the market as a city centre destination for not only shopping but a quality food experience whilst enjoying good company."

Leader of Inverness and Area Cllr Ian Brown said: “This report is great news for Inverness city centre and for locals and visitors to the city. I am delighted that almost half of the new units have been let in the Foodhall with a further unit under offer. A unit is also available on a week-to-week basis for food businesses that wish to trial the market or are not in a position to commit to a formal lease.”

“Inverness Common Good Funding has transformed this once-tired city centre asset into an open bright, thriving, and exciting business opportunity. I would like to wish the tenants Bad Girl Bakery, Salt N Fire, Highland Food & Drink Trail, Moonshine, Good Girl Greengrocer, Sushi Inverness and Redshank Catering all the best with their ventures. I also look forward to welcome remaining tenants into the last few available units.”

The total budget for the refurbishment project of the Market Hall in September 2022 was £1,964,339 comprising £1,635,339 Inverness Common Good Funding; £250,000 Town Centre Funding; and £79,000 Placed Based Investment Programme funds.

An Action Plan created in 2017 has delivered a transformed Victorian Market as a centre for business which attracts a broad range of complementary businesses that are increasing footfall to the city centre. The Market is now being promoted as a year-round destination for tourist and local shoppers and is widely promoted on social media.

Improved access, opening hours and shop fronts have enhanced the physical appearance of the market and work is to be continued to achieve more improvements.

Supporting the refurbishment has been the work of the Victorian Market Management to create dedicated events, branding and promotions with a new website and social media channels developed.

To enable a review to be undertaken to establish future management and commercial development requirements, Councillors agreed to extend the current management arrangements for a further year.

A report on the review will be presented to a future meeting of the City of Inverness Area Committee.

The Victorian Market is managed by The Highland Council on behalf of the Inverness Common Good Fund. The exception to this is the portion of the market that lies between Queensgate and the Market Arcade which is privately owned and managed.