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“My view is that we should concentrate
on the second part of the strategic aim in the document. Of course our
objective is to increase the prosperity of the Highlands and Islands generally
through sustainable economic development, but the second part of the strategic
aim – the reduction of social and economic disparities within the region
…is equally important” said Mr Wilson.
Mr Wilson also said it was the responsibility
of the committee to help poorer communities take full advantage of funding.
“It is very important that local authorities
and local enterprise companies work together to promote the strategic objectives
of the plan. Even where they are working together, however, there are still
areas where the level of preparedness of different communities varies within
the local authority area. Our role should be to encourage those communities
with the lowest level of preparedness to take advantage of the strategic
aim of redistributing money within the overall area of the Highlands and
Islands” said Mr Wilson.
“This latter point is of particular
significance to Cumbrae” said Mr Wilson after the meeting “ as the island
has lost out in the past and must now be helped to maximise it’s advantage
in being listed as an area for priority treatment. I will be stressing
the importance of readiness at my meeting on Friday with the North Ayrshire
Council and Argyll and the Islands Enterprise where hopefully concrete
proposals on suitable projects will begin to emerge.” said Mr Wilson.
The European Committee have now endorsed
Mr Wilson’s comments and incorporated them within the document they have
transmitted to the Scottish Executive.
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