Found: Our information and services have enabled 260 hectares of regeneration and safe development for coalfield

Found: Agenda item 2 Next Steps in Levelling Up the Former Coalfields – All-Party Group on Coalfield Communities

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the value of the work of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.

Answered by FitzPatrick, Joe - Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning

The Scottish Government’s Regeneration programmes work together to support resilient and sustainable communities, with communities directly involved in decisions on the future of their places. The Scottish Government values Coalfields Regeneration Trust’s (CRT’s) contribution to that approach. Since 1999, the Scottish Government has provided over £28 million in funding to CRT to invest in improving outcomes for coalfield communities.

In 2023/24 funding is being delivered within the context of the most challenging budget settlement since devolution. The Scottish Government is having to make difficult decisions while ensuring it does what is best for communities with the limited resources it has. This is impacting programmes across Government including the Empowering Communities Programme through which CRT is funded and which has been subject to a reduction in budget from 2022-23.

In addition to the dedicated funding for coalfield communities delivered through CRT, the Scottish Government also invests in wider regeneration programmes such as the Investing in Communities Fund and Regeneration Capital Grant Fund. These target our most disadvantaged and fragile communities and continue to support projects in our former coalfield communities.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will support the development of a capital endowment scheme for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust to provide a sustainable income stream to tackle any issues that are facing former coalfield communities without their reliance on the current annual revenue grant.

Answered by FitzPatrick, Joe - Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning

The Deputy First Minister has made clear the very challenging position on the Scottish Government’s capital budget. This is forecast to result in a 9.8% real terms cut in our capital funding over the medium term between 2023-24 and 2027-28.

Through the existing capital investment routes including the Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, we have, over a number of years, encouraged the CRT to work with relevant local authorities to bring forward proposals to develop assets, to support community led regeneration while providing an alternative source of income generation for CRT. This is aimed at reducing the Trust’s reliance on revenue grant.

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of its decision to reduce the funding for the Coalfields Regeneration Trust on its work in the former coalfield communities.

Answered by FitzPatrick, Joe - Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning

The Scottish Government’s challenging budget position impacts on the budget available for the delivery of the Empowering Communities Programme which supports Coalfield Regeneration Trust’s (CRT’s) grant. Officials advised CRT that we would be unable to deliver funding at the same level as previous years and worked with the Trust to help prioritise their 2023-24 work programme on protecting those elements which have the greatest impact and outcomes for coalfields communities.