Childcare key part of plan to grow rural economies

Highland Council has proposed potential new forms of childcare provision to help tackle depopulation, improve wellbeing and support economic growth in rural communities.

The local authority is exploring alternative approaches to economic development through its Community Wealth Building Strategy.

The council has suggested childminding could be widened from care provided in a person's home to include running community holiday clubs in village halls, something which is not currently allowed under Scottish legislation.

It is also looking at the potential of subsidising rural childminders to bring their pay in line with the Living Wage.

In a report, Highland Council said a subsidy would mean childminders no longer having to rely on looking after a minimum number of children to make the job pay.

The Highlands have a large number of rural communities with limited availability of childcare provision to support working families.

Housing and job creation also form parts of the wealth building strategy.

Councillors are due to consider the latest report on the plans at an economy and infrastructure committee meeting on Thursday.

Highland Council has previously warned about depopulation.

Officials said there was a "significant risk" parts of the region were being "drained" of people.

It said population trends suggested growth around the Inner Moray Firth, but people "drifting away" from Caithness and the west Highlands.

The figures showed that between 2003 and 2020 populations increased by 22% in Fortrose and Rosemarkie and 19% in Inverness, but fell by 18% in Mallaig and 17% in Kinlochleven.

Across the region older age groups are growing, partly because of the Highlands' attractiveness as a "retirement destination".