Council tax to be frozen for Highland residents
Scottish Government funding of over ÂŁ4m means there will be no increase this year.
Highland Council have confirmed council tax will not be increased this year.
The local authority say Scottish Government funding of over ÂŁ4 million will allow them to charge the same rate as last year.
This year's budget plans include a ÂŁ6 million Economic Prosperity Fund to help improve employment opportunities such as business start-ups and modern apprenticeships.
The proposals also include a ÂŁ1.5 million Visitor Management Strategy, ÂŁ2.1 million place-based investment fund, additional local ward discretionary funding and ÂŁ2.25 million for a Recovery, Improvement and Transformation Fund.
However, savings of over ÂŁ20 million have to be made between 2022 and 2024.
Depute Leader and the Council’s Chair of Recovery Board, Cllr Alasdair Christie highlighted the importance of investing in stimulating economic growth and employment in the Highlands.
He said: "This is one of the most positive budgets that I can remember, considering the scale of the challenges facing us in the Highlands.
"We are proposing a budget which has been targeted to improve health and prosperity in our area, this budget will set a firm foundation of investment on which to build a sound, immediate and lasting recovery.
"We have identified four key investment strategies – a key plank of which is a £6 million Economic Prosperity Fund which addresses business growth, opportunities for our young people and seeks to tackle unemployment.
"Our Visitor Management Strategy ÂŁ1.5 million, place-based investment ÂŁ2.1 million and local grass-roots investment ÂŁ0.2 million.
"All 4 of these interventions will contribute to ensuring that some of the negative impacts of the last 11 months can be reversed."
Leader of the Opposition, Cllr Raymond Bremner added: "The Highland Council’s communities have been faced with challenging, unprecedented times. We have all had to work together to ensure we provide an effective programme of recovery that boosts and regenerates the Highland economy.
"There are key areas to focus on – business and industry support, jobs, community health and well being and a focus on our young people.
"Additional funding (from the Scottish Government) has helped the Council sustain our communities through a tough year and if we continue to work together we can all help contribute to the recovery with a more positive outlook for the immediate and long-term future of our Highland communities."
Depute Budget Leader, Cllr Matthew Reiss commented: "This has been a collaborative budget, and I want to thank all those, members and officers, who have contributed to this enormous task, especially through the continuing challenge of working within a pandemic, the like of which we have never faced before."
Chair of the Brexit Working Group, Cllr Jimmy Gray said: "Climate change, Covid, Brexit and global economic uncertainty - At no time, out with the two world wars, have governments at all levels had to deal with such a concurrency of such extreme issues, every one of which poses an extreme threat.
"Ultimately, much of the day to day business of dealing with a large percentage of the consequences of a combination of all these factors involves Local Government and their staff. The pressure to maintain essential services has been relentless for the best part of the last year.
"I am sure the people of the Highlands who rely on the Council to maintain these essential services will be hugely relieved that we have been able to work collaboratively to produce such a positive outcome."
The budget proposals will be considered by Council on March 4th.