COUNCILLORS in a rural region are working to chart their area’s future without EU funding.
The issue revolves around European Structural Funds, which account for more than one quarter of the EU Budget and are intended to support economic development.
As much as £393 million was directed to Scotland from 2014-2020 to increase digital connectivity, improve employment opportunities and pursue low-carbon strategies.
The Scottish Government is now consulting on how any replacement funding set-up “could best meet the needs of our citizens, our businesses and our communities”.
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Today members of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Economy and Resources Committee will be asked to agree their draft response.
As part of the South of Scotland region, it was allotted £4.3m in funding for 2015-22.
Local leaders say that grouping has the lowest GDP per head in the UK and the way boundaries have been drawn serves to “mask the significant intra-regional inequalities” between parts of Scotland.
If agreed today, the local authority will seek greater support in the years to come.
Depute council leader Rob Davidson, who represents the Abbey ward, says previous funding models which grouped the region with Glasgow meant its “rurality was often ignored” due to the focus on urban and more densely populated areas.
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And Labour councillor Archie Dryburgh says funding models must help “tackle challenges which arise from our geography, population imbalance and low income”.
Davidson, who chairs the Economy and Resources Committee, commented: “Through the current formula when we are compared to London GDP per head, this creates the widest regional disparity in Europe. Provided members agree, I will now write to our local members of the UK and Scottish Parliaments to outline our position and to request support towards the future funding following the UK exit from the EU.”
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