Is Common Good Fund in the best interests of people of Grantown?
Local Highland councillors have welcomed the potential future good uses Grantown’s new common fund will bring to town’s residents.
Members of the Badenoch and Strathspey area committee were given an update at their latest meeting in Kingussie’s courthouse.
Councillor Russell Jones, chair of the committee, said: “The development of the Grantown-on- Spey Common Good Fund is a long-term commitment that Badenoch and Strathspey councillors are laying down the foundations now for future generations to come.
“Members have welcomed the potential future uses of the fund including examples such as giving financial support to local charities and supporting community projects and community events.
“The creation of the fund will, however, take time before it can be disbursed.
“We hope that in future the income for the common good fund collected now and over the years to come will enable the creation of specific budgets for events and festivals and community projects to benefit the local community.
Councillor Bill Lobban has stressed that the money does not go to the council.
He said: “We want to see the common good fund grow in the future and benefit the local community.
“It’s important that people know that the fund will be used exclusively for the benefit of the people of Grantown and not on council projects.”
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Councillors noted a forecast 2024/25 year end position of the common good fund revenue reserves of £910 and approved a proposed budget for 2025/26 with an anticipated income of £500 and year end revenue reserves of £1,410.
In time all future proposals that would benefit the Grantown area alone, would come to the area committee for local councillors’ consideration.
However, a move to declare the town’s historic square part of the common good with proposals by the council to charge for its use has proven controversial with town residents and is currently subject to civil court proceedings.
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As a result of the council’s reactivation of the Common Good Fund for Grantown in recent years, the authority wanted to look at it as a source of generating extra income and launched a public consultation.
A total of 23 representations were received with 74 per cent of the responses opposing mandatory charging and the remaining 26 per cent being split between approval and mixed responses.
Local councillors agreed in June, last year, to continue down the path after considering the representations, saying it was in the interests of Grantown.
The Square is the jewel in the crown of the town and was gifted by Nina Caroline Ogilvie Grant, Countess of Seafield, on July 15, 1966 to the Provost, Magistrates and Councillors of the Burgh of Grant-own and is assessed as Common Good for the benefits of the town’s residents.
