Aberdeenshire Councillors approve annual Crown Estate funding
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Aberdeenshire councillors have endorsed the local authority's annual Crown Estate funding report.
The Crown Estate Scotland net revenues are managed by the council in line with a framework agreed by its infrastructure services committee in 2021.
This funding is used to benefit projects in the coastal communities of Aberdeenshire.
The latest annual report was assessed by councillors during the infrastructure services committee meeting on Thursday.
In the report that went before members it stated: "Crown Estate Scotland generates income from a range of marine assets (aquaculture, offshore renewables, moorings, and other coastal income).
"Aberdeenshire Council receives a proportion of this income annually to be used for coastal community benefit such as support for local projects or initiatives."
The local authority has received a total of £2,156,522.24 to date through annual allocations in 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23.
The most recent ones were for £716,469.98 in 2021/22 and £669,136.11 in 2022/23.
The report added: "The spend deadline for the allocations is March 31 2023, with the funding split equally between a Coastal Communities Challenge Fund and allocations to coastal administrative areas.
"Notification of the fourth allocation was received on December 12 2022 with Marine Scotland indicating a “…preference that the allocations should be used to deliver coastal community benefit this financial year”. However, an option to contact them if this would be an issue has been offered.
"Given the short window remaining in 2022/23 to commit and spend the funds, it is recommended that a formal request be submitted to Marine Scotland to carry forward allocation four funds into 2023/24."
A range of projects have benefitted from the recent allocation through the Coastal Communities Challenge Fund.
This has included £14,603.89 to Grow @ The Vinery in Banff for the employment of a garden co-ordinator; the Apex Church in Peterhead received £25,000 for extension work to its community centre; £25,000 was also allocated to the Udny Arms Hotel for the construction of two retail "pods" which will be available for rent to local businesses; and the Fraserburgh South Links Sports Development Trust received £19,058.82 for energy efficiency measures and a new roof at the South Links pavilion.
Community groups have also been supported through area allocations in Banff and Buchan; Buchan; Formartine; and Kincardine and Mearns.
Projects have included seaweed cultivation on the Banff and Buchan coast which was allocated £25,000; Peterhead Sailing Club received £10,000 on behalf of the Lido Users Group (watersports) to commission a professional study of options for facilities improvements; £19,000 was allocated to engage a design consultant for the work to deliver a feasibility study with regards to community facilities in Blackdog; and the Mearns Coastal Heritage Trail between Johnshaven and St Cyrus with its work to add a further row of rocks in front of the Seagreens cottages to protect the path from further storm damage received £40,000.
The report outlined that changes to the framework are needed.
It said: "There have been some operational challenges with delivery of the approved framework.
"These include potential confusion/overlap between the Challenge Fund and existing area committee grants schemes.
"Furthermore, the maximum grant size of £25,000 requires a large number of project applications to come forward to commit funds and meet in year spending targets.
"To address these issues, it is proposed to revise the framework to amend the grant thresholds for the Challenge Fund to between £10,000 and £50,000 and introduce specific provision for area small grants.
"In addition, it is proposed to add a further indicator to capture the number of new visitors/customers."
During Thursday's infrastructure services committee meeting Councillor Isobel Davidson said: "The proposed changes to the Coastal Communities Challenge Fund to make sure that there's more robust reporting and recording of outcomes is very welcome and it would be good to see that.
"I agree with the change in the proposed grant levels as well, so I am very happy with this report and it's always good to see this money coming to our area."
Councillor Stephen Smith said: "I'm very happy that the small grants are being delivered through the area committees which keeps the decision-making more local."
Councillor George Carr said: "This is a fantastic fund and brings great opportunities to our coastal communities. There was no other alternative funding available until this came along so I'm very pleased to see it coming forward."
The committee agreed with the recommendations of the report and it was approved.
