On 21 February 2022 the Scottish Government announced a new £80 million Local Authority Covid Economic Recovery (LACER) Fund targeting support for businesses and communities as part of the next phase of the pandemic.
The guiding policy intent of this funding is to support local economic recovery and cost of living impacts on low-income households.
Councils have complete flexibility on how and when they use these funds but potential areas of usage suggested in the guiding principles include:
- Interventions that support local economic recovery and contribute to businesses being able to move from surviving the period of trading restrictions towards recovery, growth, adaptation and building resilience;
- Projects that can rebuild consumer confidence and stimulate demand and economic activity in their specific contexts; and
- Support to low-income households, that are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and the current cost of living crisis, become more economically active.
Angus Council LACER funding will be directed towards the following themes:
- Child Poverty
- Fuel Poverty/Cost of living
- Food Poverty
- Climate Change/Transport Poverty
- Town Centres - Economic Growth
Proposals have been approved that will support our local businesses and lowest-income households, particularly families, with the increasing costs of living, increasing the income people have to spend in the local economy and prioritising our town centres, encouraging collaboration and economic growth.
For more details see:
- Angus Council report 243/23
- Angus Council report 90/23
- Angus Council report 363/22
- Angus Council report 180/22
Food poverty
Funding has been distributed in the form of one-off grants to local charities and community organisations across Angus to support vulnerable communities affected by food poverty and connect them with the support they need.
Fuel poverty
£200,000 has been allocated through the Angus HeatWell (Round 2) Scheme.
Climate change/transport poverty
The Free Bus Transport scheme will provide free bus passes, following a needs assessment, to support those in Angus who:
- are already in contact with partner support agencies or
- have been referred to them for support with benefits and/or debts
Town Centres - Economic Growth
The Angus Independent Retailer Programme is open to independent retailers within Angus’s seven burgh towns and aims to increase footfall and spend in the local economy.
Funded by £400,000 of Local Authority Covid-19 Economic Recovery (LACER) money, the programme will deliver tailored support for independent retailers with 1-1 business advice to help the retail sector maintain long-term sustainability.
The programme will also be combined with a small grant scheme for eligible businesses to support business development and improve customer experience.