I noted the following on the Scottish Exec website today. While it refers to an initial £1.5m I understand next year this will rise to the full £3m. I infer that archaeology will only get a slice if they can develop community led projects that meet the criteria. Web text reads:
Sustainable Action Grants
Aggregates Levy: Community Environmental Renewal Grants
The Scottish Executive is providing Community Environmental Renewal Grants in 2002-03 from the proceeds of the Aggregates Levy. £1,500,000 is available for these grants.
Bids are invited from local communities, or bodies which can demonstrate that they are working with local communities, for projects which:
1. address the environmental effects of past or present aggregates extraction (eg visual impact, noise, dust, pollution, transport, loss of habitat); 2. involve the local community, and have demonstrable social and/or economic benefit to the local community;
3. will not support work which is already required eg by statute or contractual obligations, but may supplement this (eg restoration of site to higher standard than provided for by planning conditions).
Within these broad criteria, applicants are free to develop projects to meet local needs. The environmental effects of aggregates extraction listed above are simply examples, and applicants may identify other effects. We also recognise that the effects may be felt some distance from the site of the aggregate extraction. The Aggregates Levy applies to commercial exploitation of rock, gravel or sand. It does not apply to extraction of coal, clay, soil etc.
Grants are available for the full cost of projects. Grants could be used alongside other sources of funding, eg as match funding for lottery grants. Conditions of grant will include full reporting of what is achieved.
There is no minimum application. Given the large number of potential bidders, the maximum grant for any community will be £50,000, to be reviewed in light of demand. Where projects benefit a number of communities, larger grants will be considered.
Applications to the 2002-03 grant scheme must be submitted by 13 December 2002. A Grants Panel, including representatives from the Scottish Executive and a range of interested bodies, will decide on grant allocations, and these will be announced by mid January 2003.
Grants will also be available in 2003-04. The distribution mechanism and criteria are being considered, and more information will be available here shortly.
From www.sustainable.scotland.gov.uk/grants/aggregate
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