How the Council goes about getting money from the European Commission is both complicated and confusing for the layman.
But, rest assured, South Lanarkshire Council's Enterprise Resources team have been working hard to get as much European assistance for local businesses as they can. Two of the most recent announcements concerning this are in the form of Assisted Area Status and Objective 2.
Assisted Area Status identifies which areas are eligible for Government assistance through its Regional Selective Assistance Programme. This money is used at a local level to provide grants to firms to create or safeguard jobs.
In July of this year, the Government announced the new Assisted Area maps for the whole of Scotland. The areas were designated by the old district wards and, in South Lanarkshire, while the Council put forward the whole area for designation, 33 of the 56 wards were deemed by the Government as eligible for Assisted Area assistance. This includes 17 in Hamilton, 10 in East Kilbride, three in Clydesdale and three in Cambuslang/Rutherglen.
Councillor Eddie McAvoy, leader of South Lanarkshire Council, said: On the whole we welcome the proposals, however, we are disappointed Clydesdale didn't get a bigger designation.
"We now await the confirmation from the European Commission that it approves of the areas designated and we expect to hear before Christmas. Subject to that approval, the new Assisted Areas will take effect from January next year."
He continued: "Assisted Area status will allow the Council to work with South Lanarkshire's business community to create or safeguard jobs. With this money, we will be able to work with our partners to target the areas most in need of assistance.
"However, you can be rest assured that any business not within the Assisted Area map will still continue to receive help from the Council by other means."
In previous years, Assisted Area status has been successful in South Lanarkshire. Between 1985 and 1997, Regional Selective Assistance of £128.1 million was made to firms on projects worth £958.6 million. This created or safeguarded 19,570 jobs - 13,060 (67%) new jobs, 6,510 (33%) safeguarded.
However, firms outwith Assisted Areas will not be eligible for aid because of the European Union competition rules in regard to this initiative.
Another European funding programme is Objective 2. The Government announced the new proposals in October which gives South Lanarkshire 24% coverage.
However, Council leader, Eddie McAvoy expressed his disappointment South Lanarkshire's allocation wasn't greater.
He said: "While I welcome the proposals as being good news for some of the worst off areas in South Lanarkshire, I'm disappointed that only 11 out of 56 pre-boundary change wards have been included. I'm particularly concerned that the real difficulties, such as unemployment and transportation, being faced in our rural areas and the development opportunities offered in East Kilbride have not been reflected in this allocation."
The areas covered by the new Objective 2 proposals are nine wards in Hamilton and two in Cambuslang/Rutherglen.