Renfrewshire could suffer £1m funding loss

Concerns have been raised after it was estimated Renfrewshire could lose almost £1 million in funding for employability and business development initiatives.

- JACK THOMSON, LOCAL DEMOCRACY REPORTER

Council leader Iain Nicolson has taken aim at the UK Government after it announced its new local growth fund for Scotland as part of a replacement for the shared prosperity fund.

The three-year programme will determine allocations at regional level rather than individual local authority level - a change from previous programmes.

A report, which recommended the council turn to its Invest in Renfrewshire budget to “mitigate the expected loss in funding” was agreed at a meeting of the economy and regeneration policy board on Tuesday.

The idea is to reduce the impact and ensure it can continue to support a number of staff posts and external partners who help deliver its programmes.

Councillor Nicolson said: “Our local employability and business programmes play a key part in getting people into work in Renfrewshire.