RURAL RESETTLEMENT FUND

Personal Relocation Grant

Application Form

GUIDELINES
The Rural Resettlement Fund Personal RelocationGrant is a discretionary grant of up to £5,000, payable to individuals and households relocating to Argyll and Bute.
To be eligible for the Personal Relocation Grant, the individual/household must be:
  • Currently based out with Argyll and Bute
  • Relocating permanently to live in the Argyll and Bute
  • Moving to take up new employment
  • Able to identify the relocation costs seeking support with
  • 16 years and over
  • Have no outstanding debts to Argyll and Bute Council.
Applicants must apply within 3 months of relocating and starting new employment in Argyll and Bute.
To be eligible for the Personal Relocation Grant, the expenditure must relate to:
  • Removals - Costs directly related to the relocation of the household such as removal and storage costs.
  • Relocation - Costs directly related to supporting relocation such as monthly rent, Council Tax and utility bills. You will be asked to provide copies of your lease, invoices and receipts etc.
  • Ineligible cost – Costs directly related to the purchase or sale of a property (including mortgages); travel costs (fuel); home improvements (fitted kitchens, carpets etc.), decoration and white goods are not eligible.
To be eligible for the Personal Relocation Grant, the above information must be evidenced accordingly.
Argyll and Bute Council particularly welcomes applications from our key industry sectors (tourism, food and drink, aquaculture, marine science, renewables, forestry and creative industries) and those with specialist skills (NHS, care sector, police, teaching, engineering and training) to support the sustainability of Argyll and Bute communities.
1. Your information
Name
Current address
Postcode / Date of Birth
Email
Telephone Number / Mobile Number
National Insurance Number
Do you own property in Argyll and Bute (longer than 3 months)? / Yes No
2. Relocation address
New address (if known)
Entry date
3. Newemployer
Name of new employer
Employer’s Address
Postcode / Telephone
Number
Email
4. Details of post
New post title
Start date
Duration of contract
Does your employer provide a relocation package? / Yes No
If ‘yes’,list and quantifywhat your employer provides.Please provide evidence of costs already covered.
Does your employer provide accommodation free of charge? / Yes No
5. Relocation costs
Please outline the items and costs expected to be incurred in relocating your home (attach quotes – see terms and conditions) / Item / Cost
6.About you
Please tell us a bit about you and why you (and your family) have chosen to move to Argyll and Bute.
We may ask if we can contact you to take part in publicity for the Rural Resettlement Fund.
Please tell us how this grant will help you to relocate to Argyll and Bute.
Please tell us if anyone from household will be in receipt of a relocation package. And if so, please state the amount.
Please tell us how you found out about the Rural Resettlement Fund.
Please tell us if you have a close personal or business relationship with an Elected Member or an employee of Argyll and Bute Council.
Supporting Documentation Check List
Have you enclosed the following with your application? ()
Evidence of current address (bank statement, utility bill or Council Tax notification - less than 3 months old) / Yes / No
Evidence of new address (if known) / Yes / No
Evidence of new employment (contract or employer’s letter on headed paper) / Yes / No
2 Quotes for each item costing £500 or more
3 Quotes for each item costing £1,000 of more / Yes / No
Proof of I.D. (passport, driving licence or birth certificate) / Yes / No

PLEASE READ ALL THE FOLLOWING TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY AND SIGN THE DECLARATION BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION

TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Section 1: Your information
  • Applicants must be 16 years or over.
  • Applicants must be currently based out with Argyll and Bute and relocating permanently to live in the Argyll and Bute Council area.
  • Applicants who possess a second home in Argyll and Bute are not eligible for support. The Council will undertake a check to ensure applicants do not own other homes in Argyll and Bute.

Section 2: Relocation address
  • Applicants must provide evidence of the new address at the time of application (if known) or once it becomes available. The grant will be provisionally approved and no claims can be made until this is provided.
  • Applicants may have signed a lease or undertaken an exchange of missives for the purchase of a new home, only if this has been signed within 3 months of the start date of new employment.Applicants must evidence their previous address being out with Argyll and Bute.

Section 3: New employer
  • If the employer’s main address is out with Argyll and Bute, the address of the Argyll and Bute based job must be provided.

Section 4: Details of post
  • Applicants must be moving to take up new employment.
  • Applicants must have a contract for full-time employment for more than one year or a Modern Apprenticeship for the same time period.
  • Applications may be accepted to the Rural Resettlement Fund up to three months after the employment start date.
  • If the employer provides a relocation package (or a member of your household is in receipt of a relocation package), it is at the discretion of Argyll and Bute Council to approve your application, taking the costs covered into consideration.
  • Applicants relocating with the option of employer accommodation, free of charge, are not eligible.

Section 5: Relocation costs
  • Applicants must identify the items and actual costs to be incurred in relocating their home.
  • Costs already committed to, or incurred, at or before the date of application submission will not be eligible (except maximum 3 months’ rent and associated costs).
  • Applicantsmust provide a minimum of two quotes for items costing £500 or more and three quotes for items costing more £1,000, or for cumulative cost per supplier of £500 or more (excluding quotes for rent).
  • Costs directly related to the purchase or sale of a property (including mortgages); travel costs (fuel); home improvements (fitted kitchens, carpets etc.), decoration and white goodsare not eligible.
  • Payment will only be made against proof of expenditure.
  • The following will be accepted as proof of expenditure:
  • Paid invoices or receipts for each item being claimed; and
  • Original bank statement or online bank statement showing payment for each item being claimed (original items sent in will be stamped and returned to you).
  • Items purchased with cash and items with handwritten receipts are not eligible.
  • Receipts must bear the name of the company providing the goods/service.
  • The maximum amount payable to any one individual/household is £5,000.
  • If eligible expenditure is less than £5,000, the lower cost will be paid.

Section 6: About you
  • Applicants must disclose if they have a close personal or business relationship with an Elected Member or employee of Argyll and Bute Council.

General Terms and Conditions
  • Applicants must apply within 3 months of relocating and starting new employment within Argyll and Bute.
  • Funding awarded is at the discretion of Argyll and Bute Council.
  • Applications will only be considered where the application form is completed in full and accompanied by the necessary supporting documentation.
  • 25% of the grant will be held back until you have lived in Argyll and Bute for 12 months. The Council will contact you after a year asking for evidence of your current address. This must be in the form of official documentation such as a bank statement or Council Tax bill, dated within the last month.
  • Payments must be claimed within 18 months of receipt of the Grant Acceptance letter. Applicants can choose to make claims monthly, quarterly or one full claim.
  • Applicants must have no outstanding debts to Argyll and Bute Council. Acheck will be undertaken to ensure the applicant has no outstanding debt to Argyll and Bute Council.
  • Applicants who have owned a property in Argyll and Bute for longer than 3 months will not be eligible.
  • The Council may be required to make any application for Council funding available for public scrutiny under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. The applicant should make the Council aware of any part of the application which may prejudice its interest if it were made public.
  • The Council reserves the right to use details of successful applicants for publicity for the Rural Resettlement Fund and share information with any parties appointed to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of this funding.
  • Applications will not be considered from those who have been previously unsuccessful unless there is a significant change in circumstances and the reasons for rejection have been addressed.
  • Any decision is final and no further correspondence will be entered in to.
  • By accepting the grant, individuals agree to further monitoring of their progress by Argyll and Bute Council.

DECLARATION
I hereby apply for the Rural Resettlement Fund PersonalRelocation Grant and declare that the information I have given on this application form is accurate and correct. I understand if false information is given I may be liable to prosecution.
I have received, read, understood and agree to abide by the Rural Resettlement Grant, Personal Relocation Grant Terms and Conditions
I understand that receipted invoices, receipts and bank statements are required for any items subsequently claimed against an approved application.
Name:
Signature:
Date:
Data Protection Act
Your personal data will be treated in confidence and will not be shared with any third parties, other than those undertaking checks as stated in Section 1: Your Information and in the General Terms and Conditions above. Any statistic collected will be produced in a form that does not identify you. The information will be entered onto our database and it will be used in accordance with the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Return yourcompletedand signed application form and supporting documentation to the Economic Growth team either by email or post:

Email:

Post:Rural Resettlement Fund, Argyll and Bute Council,Eaglesham House, Rothesay, PA20 0HQ.

Next steps

Once you have submitted your application form, a Council officer may be in touch to discuss your application. You will receive the final decision by email and post.

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