COUNCIL leaders are working to create an eligibility scale allowing them to award funding support to taxi drivers and workers in need.

During a discussion at last week’s full council meeting, it was agreed that the chief executive would consult with the leader of the council and leader of the opposition to ensure payments were made accordingly.

It also agreed that council leader Jonathan McColl would continue to lobby the Scottish Government for regular testing and the vaccination of home carers, teachers and support staff in schools.

His motion, with an addendum from Labour, urged the council to note the need to use the money from the discretionary fund, awarded by the Scottish Government, to help those who have been unable to access funding or further support.

It read: “Council agrees that we must get this support to people in need quickly and to that end, grants delegated authority to the chief executive, in consultation with the leader of the council and leader of the opposition, to set the eligibility criteria so that payments can start being made as soon as possible.

“Council supports the regular testing of care at home staff, teachers and teaching support staff and their prioritisation in the vaccination programme along with care home and NHS staff and encourages the leader of the council to continue to lobby on this.”

Cllr McColl said: “I know a number of us will have been contacted, particularly by taxi drivers, who are just one of the groups who have been unable to access other funds to help them through this pandemic.

“It is now at a critical stage; we need to get this money out. I know there has been some discussion between the Scottish Government and councils in terms of setting the criteria, and we want to make sure this isn’t a postcode lottery.

“I am proposing that the CEO come up with the criteria, discuss it with us and agree going forward and get the money out the door to the people who need it.”

Members agreed the terms of the motion. An update will be brought before council in due course.