Covid recovery funding will be used to help struggling businesses and people on low incomes in East Renfrewshire.

Councillors have agreed a three-tiered approach to distributing the area’s share of an £80million pot for local authorities, provided by the Scottish Government.

The final allocation has yet to be confirmed but East Renfrewshire is expecting to receive around £1.5m.

It will be used to support businesses in sectors with lower-paid staff, aiming to reduce the impact of Covid, including help to increase fair work practices, such as Real Living Wage accreditation.

Low-income households could receive shopping vouchers, as well as advice around “income maximisation and fuel poverty.”

East Renfrewshire’s cabinet has also agreed to use some of the money to extend two short-term jobs – a Covid compliance officer and a fuel poverty officer.

Council leader Tony Buchanan said: “We know the difficulties not just of the pandemic, and they are in many ways continuing to give us problems, but the ongoing crisis in terms of cost of living, which I think is going to hit people significantly hard over the next few weeks and months.

“We know that we are already seeing the impact of that. It is going to be a very challenging time and being able to make sure that we get the funding out to those most in need is going to be vital.”

Council officials have suggested East Renfrewshire could receive £1.48m from the £80m recovery pot.

A report to the cabinet stated: “The intent of this funding is to support local economic recovery and cost of living impacts on low-income households.

“The funding is flexible and designed to empower local authorities to utilise funding where they consider this necessary or justified based on local circumstances.”

Contracts for both the Covid compliance officer and fuel poverty officer have been extended until March 2023.

Councillors will be updated once the funding allocation has been confirmed.