EAST Ayrshire Council looks set to be included in a delegation set for Westminster to discuss the Hargreaves proposals for a tax exemption to safeguard jobs.

Last week the Chronicle reported how Energy Minister Fergus Ewing chaired the Scottish Coal Industry Taskforce in Glasgow where the proposals for Carbon Price Support (CPS) dominated the agenda.

East Ayrshire Council Leader, Councillor Douglas Reid attended the meeting alongside Chief Exec Fiona Lees.

Cllr Reid said: “Together with fellow elected members and senior officers including Chief Executive Fiona Lees, I attended the Scottish Coal Taskforce Meeting which gave us an opportunity to discuss the progress made in relation to a number of important issues and in particular, Carbon Price Support, in the light of the commitment made by the Chancellor to work closely with the Scottish Coal Task Force and industry stakeholders to explore alternative options for addressing the environmental liabilities associated with unrestored opencast mines in Scotland.

“We welcomed Fergus Ewing, Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism’s intention to include East Ayrshire Council in a delegation to Westminster to meet with colleagues in the Treasury and Energy departments, and were particularly pleased to note support towards and recognition of our own efforts.” The council leader added: “We are also pleased to announce that the council, working with the local community council and with the support of the relevant landowners, has this week concluded the contract with Hargreaves for the restoration of Dunstonhill utilising the £3 million of funds received under the relevant restoration bond. Hargreaves are currently mobilising their resources and will take entry to the site imminently.

“This is a significant step forward in terms of the council’s masterplan approach to all of the ‘legacy’ sites and will shortly be followed by Netherton, with yet others to follow thereafter.

“Further, if the UK Government should agree to introduce a carbon-tax exemption scheme for legacy sites we would expect to be able to significantly increase both the level of, and progress towards, restoration of the remaining sites.”