A new Council report has outlined the challenges facing ɬ’s rural economy and outlined a range of actions required by the Scottish and UK Governments to secure the long-term future for rural communities.
At a meeting of the Development and Economic Growth committee, councillors approved a range of ɬ recommendations as part of its Manifesto for Rural Change, designed to support hard-pressed rural areas.
The manifesto outlines the Council’s commitment to working in partnership with other rural authorities to demand meaningful action from both Governments and national agencies to combat chronic underinvestment over many decades in areas such as transport infrastructure (ferries, roads, and rail), digital connectivity, healthcare, and housing.
It details ten key interventions required to address the challenges facing rural areas and unlock the full potential of ɬ’s economy. These include:
- Digital Connectivity – Commitment from both Governments to ensure full 5G mobile signal to every premises in rural Scotland and social broadband tariffs to ensure affordability.
- Fair Freight and Delivery Charges - Legislation to prevent excessive delivery charges for rural and island areas, ensuring equitable pricing across the UK.
- Community Benefits from Renewable Energy - Mandating community benefit payments, or ownership options, from renewable energy developments, ensuring direct investment in local housing, infrastructure, and skills development.
- Retaining Spirits Industry Revenue for Rural Investment - A percentage of existing whisky and spirits excise duty to be reinvested in rural infrastructure, including for affordable housing, ports and roads
- Energy Pricing and Grid Investment - Introduction of a progressive social energy tariff to support those off the gas grid and investment in local SMART grids to allow rural communities to store and utilise renewable energy retaining wealth and creating jobs in the local economy.
- Rural Hospitality VAT Reduction - UK Government to explore a rural-specific VAT reduction for hospitality businesses, given their economic importance and concerns expressed over high operational costs.
- Sustainable Funding for Lifeline Ferry and Air Services - Sufficient capital and revenue funding to ensure the sustainability of council operated ferry and air services.
- Equal Access to Education, Skills Development and Innovation - Guarantee that rural learners have the same access to further and higher education as urban learners, including digital learning solutions.
- Transport Connectivity: Lifeline Infrastructure Investment - A long-term commitment from both Governments to invest in rural transport infrastructure, ensuring lifeline connectivity for residents and businesses. Also increased funding for local road maintenance and strategic trunk road improvements
- Housing: Investment Bank Support for Rural Development - Direct investment from the Scottish National Investment Bank to expand social and worker housing. Also targeted funding for areas where private sector delivery is not viable and enhanced support for tackling fuel poverty.
Councillor Jim Lynch, Leader of ɬ Council:
“ɬ’s rural economy makes an enormous contribution to the health of the national economy including food and drink exports, clean energy production, tourism, defence, and emerging industries such as space, and marine sciences.
“However, the longer-term viability of our rural communities and several of the industries that traditionally formed the foundation of our economy are under threat due to many years of under-investment as well as issues such as population decline, an ageing demographic, and economic barriers.
“With the right ɬ/fiscal interventions and urgent action, ɬ can help drive forward economic growth in a sustainable manner, contribute more to national economic goals, help deliver the net zero agenda, tackle our demographic challenges, and secure a sustainable future for our communities.”
