West Lothian Council Town Centre Fund – Capital Grant 2019/20 Application form • Please refer to the guidance notes set out in appendix 1 when completing this form • No project should start or commit expenditure before receiving the approval of grant • All projects MUST be either delivered or committed by 31 March 2020. 1. Applicant Organisation Details Organisation Name Linlithgow & Linlithgow Bridge Community Council Project title Tourist Information Centre in Burgh Halls Contact person Gordon Smith Position Chair Linlithgow & Linlithgow Bridge Community Council Address 18 Highfield Crescent Linlithgow EH49 7BG Telephone number 01506 844628 or 07769897865 Email Address [email protected] Type of organisation Community Council as defined by statute under Local (public sector, Government (Scotland ) Act 1973, Section 51(2), Voluntary Organisation representatives are all volunteers etc) What are the main activities of your To express the views of the community to the Local Authorities organisation? and other public bodies on any matter that may impact on the town of Linlithgow & Linlithgow Bridge and ensure necessary (please answer in no follow up with said authorities. more than 100 words) For voluntary or charity Voluntary applicants What date was your Amalgamated two Community Councils in 2011 organisation formed? If a charity, please quote your charity number Do you have an equal opportunities policy or statement? No If yes please provide a copy (In development) Page 1 Does your organisation take account of equality issues around Yes age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief? Page 2 2. Project details Council Ward Linlithgow Project location Linlithgow Burgh Halls Project start date As soon as possible after award Project finish date No later than 31st March 2020 Project description Describe fully the project for which grant is being sought (background and context of the project, description of works). In 2015 following a consultation with the Linlithgow Community the Planning Forum identified the loss of the Tourist Information Centre as a serious loss to the Town as it was an excellent attraction being based in the basement of the Burgh Halls. The purpose of this project is to resurrect the Tourist Information Centre based on the entrance desk in the converted Burgh Halls as the desk is not currently used by the incumbents working within the Burgh Halls The management of the Burgh Halls have welcomed our proposals and it is envisaged that good working harmony with the West Lothian staff will be paramount. Staff training for the volunteers that will man the centre will be provided by Visit west Lothian in the first instance. The digital capabilities will be enhanced and a touch screen for information will be available when the centre is unmanned. A display rack for leaflets will be required as well as an information board in the Kirk Gate pointing into the Burgh Halls advertising Tourist Information, Burgh Halls Gallery, Burgh Halls Café and public toilets. The wall displays setting out Linlithgow’s history will be retained if possible It is envisaged the Tourist Centre will work in conjunction with the Burgh Trust, Community Development Trust, Pride & Passion, Transition Linlithgow, and Ione Linlithgow BID. We will ensure that any West Lothian Council enquiries are signposted to staff in the new Partnership Centre In addition, we expect to work closely with Visit West Lothian to promote West Lothian as a whole. Current Burgh Halls insurance, and security will cover public liability, health and safety and risk assessment Other outlets in the town currently have to answer questions from tourists which is not necessarily part of their remit so a central point armed with as much information as possible will help deflect tourists to the Burgh Halls and increase footfall there Page 3 Page 4 Evidence of need What evidence is there that your project is needed? It is vital that you show that you have identified the need for your project, eg letters of support, or local survey, see guidance for examples of how you can evidence this. Evidence is set out in Linlithgow for the Future version 1 2015 -30 the need being strongly felt then as it is today Linlithgow attracts thousands of visitors per year and at the moment they do not have a central point to speak to someone and find out more about the town. Linlithgow Palace is a major attraction for tourists with “Outlander” and “The Outlaw King” adding to the numbers who visit due to the actual history of the venue. By siting the Tourist Information Centre in the Burgh Halls and using strong signage at the entrance on Kirkgate, we believe that we could effectively encourage visitors to explore more of Linlithgow attractions such as Linlithgow Museum and the Canal centre as well as West Lothian as a whole. The volunteers in the Tourist Centre would be in a position to help direct coach drivers to the appropriate parking bays on Blackness Road, helping to alleviate the congestion on the Cross. Outcomes Describe what your project will deliver in line with the funding outcomes in appendix 1. Town Centre Living / Vibrant Local Economies /Enterprising Communities / Accessible Public Services / Digital Towns /Proactive Planning The resurrection of the Tourist Centre will right in the centre of town, properly advertised will attract people to ask what is available for sightseeing, hotels, transport, etc and have it all in one place and aligns well with the funding outcome at Appendix 1 Town Centre Living – increase footfall and attraction to shopping in the town as well as encourage local people to see what the town has to offer Tourists – The Palace, St Michael’s Church, Rose Garden, Museum are the big attractions for tourists and well trained and knowledgeable staff enhanced with discussion with local historian Bruce Jamieson can improve these attractions. MyLinlithgow is an excellent tool and will be open for all in the centre but having real people there is for a town like Linlithgow, which wants to promote tourism much more than we do at present, it needs the personal touch. Page 5 Partners involved Linlithgow Community Development Trust (other local Linlithgow Burgh Trust organisations you are Linlithgow Pride and Passion working with) Transition Linlithgow Linlithgow Burgh Halls and Partnership Centre Visit West Lothian 3. Project Costs Total Project cost £3500.00 Amount of funding requested from the Town £3500.00 Centre Fund (TCF) Item of expenditure Total Cost Cost (TCF) 2 Inspiron Laptops £1000 £1000 1 22” touch screen £750 £750 Screen mounting £300 £300 Provision for signage £1100 £1100 Uniforms £350 £350 If the total cost is greater than the fund applied for please detail where the match funding is from (i.e. WLC, Lottery etc.) Please confirm whether it is approved and in place or the date that you expect this to be confirmed. Funding source (i.e. Lottery, WLC) Approved and in Date to be place confirmed Project management Describe how your project will be managed and administered including details of any: - Design / plans - Implementation arrangements e.g contract/tenders Page 6 - Planning Approval - Health and Safety/Risk Assessments - Public Liability It is important that all applicants are able to evidence the above as part of their project. The project will be managed by a small team centred on our very successful planning forum Although this a capital project it is recognised that the centre needs to be manned and we believe there exists sufficient enthusiasm in the town to do just that. Attachment checklist - For voluntary organisations Please Indicate (x) please supply Constitution or Articles and Memorandum Community Council Constitution and Standing orders Committee Members or Directors List Gordon Smith et al Bank Statements - dated within the last 3 months Treasurer Ian Kelly Annual accounts 4. Declaration We wish to apply for a Town Centre Fund – Capital Grant 2019/20. The above is an accurate outline of the proposed project. We have read and understood the guidance notes for applicants and agree to the conditions therein. We understand that the grant may be modified or withdrawn, if all the conditions are not adhered to. We are willing to co- operate in the monitoring of the grant scheme and to meet with their representatives if required to do so. We will acknowledge the support of the Fund in any related PR activities. Name Gordon Smith Position Chair Organisation Linlithgow & Linlithgow Bridge Community Council Date 30th August 2019 Please send your completed forms to: The Regeneration Team: [email protected] For admin related queries contact: Page 7 Gemma Telfer, Administrative Assistant Community Regeneration Economic Development and Regeneration West Lothian Council 1st Floor South West Lothian Civic Centre Howden South Road Livingston EH54 6FF Tel: 01506 281692 E-mail: [email protected] Page 8 Appendix 1 Town Centre Fund – Capital Grant 2019/20 – Background and Guidance 1. Background In February 2019 the Scottish Government announced, as part of their budget settlement within the local authority capital settlement, a new ring fenced capital fund of £50 million for a Town Centre Fund for 2019/20. The allocation of this fund was based on the Scotland’s Town Partnership working definition of a town being a place with a population of 1,000 or more, which equates to 484 towns across Scotland, 23 for West Lothian. This resulted in an allocation of £1.826 million to West Lothian. The purpose of the grant is to enable local authorities to stimulate and support placed based economic investments which encourage town centres to diversify and flourish, creating footfall through local improvements and partnerships. Specifically, this fund aims to contribute to transformative investments which drive local economic activities and re- purpose town centres to become more diverse, successful and sustainable.