Almost 30 projects awarded funding by Highland Council – including £76,000 for floral displays in Inverness area
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Floral display funding totalling more than £76,000 and almost £24,000 for new bus shelters and public park improvements were among the projects awarded money by city councillors this week.
The City of Inverness area committee awarded almost 30 different funding packages at its latest meeting on Monday.
Theses packages including four applications to use repurposed left-over Covid-19 funds, 17 grants from the council's ward discretionary budget, and six projects from Inverness BID to receive cash from the Inverness Common Good Fund.
The biggest cash recipients were the Inverness city centre annual floral displays (£52,410) and the wider Inverness area floral displays (£23,531).
Just under £24,000 worth of repurposed Covid-19 funding was used to fund the installation of new bus shelters in the Inverness Ness-side and Inverness Millburn wards (at £3881 each); and improve park areas at Bun-Sgoil Ghaidhlig Inbhir Nis (£10,000) and Holm Park (£6197.27).
Leader of Inverness and area, Cllr Iain Brown, said: “Bus travel is high in these two wards and these new investments will provide much needed shelter for bus users whatever the weather. The green park improvements will also provide outdoor space for all to enjoy.”
Some of the other successful project applications included money for Inverness BID's Operation Respect Easter/summer/autumn programme (£13,403), its Inverness Gull Project (£13,606), Safe Inverness Project (£9700) and its coach and visitor ambassador project (£19,865) which welcomes visitors as they arrive in the city.
Funding for the six BID applications – which include the floral display projects – will be provided from the Common Good Fund’s Partnership Working Budget for 2024/25 after April 1.
Leader Brown added: “The Highland Council continues to be supportive of Inverness BID and as it proceeds into its fourth successive five-year term which will run until the end of March 2028. [The] council recognises and commends what Inverness BID can achieve through effective partnership and these awards from the Inverness Common Good will support the delivery of these important projects.”
Members of the committee also noted that 17 ward discretionary budget applications have been approved since November totalling £21,782, which included money for a local food hub, and various schools and schools’ activities, churches, community councils, and sporting organisations.
