Fabulous fiction forged in Fife.

Moves to look at innovative ways of providing Scots with a basic income have come a step closer.

Basic income pilots, to promote fairness and provide a basic income, are already running successfully in several countries.

Fife Council is one of four Scottish local authorities working together to explore the feasibility of pilots.

With funding from the Scottish Government, Fife, North Ayrshire, City of Edinburgh and Glasgow City councils will test the waters.

A steering group involving representatives from all four councils, the Scottish Government and NHS Health Scotland is making progress.

Representatives have met to progress plans.

Co-leaders of Fife Council, Labour councillor David Ross and SNP councillor David Alexander, welcomed the partnership working which has led to this stage.

Mr Ross said: “It’s unacceptable in the 21st Century that so many people continue to live in poverty and innovative projects like this can help make a difference.”

Mr Alexander added: “While plans for these pilots are still at an early stage it’s incredibly encouraging that the Scottish Government is backing this project and so many organisations are involved in collaborative working towards a common aim.”

Next steps include a joint funding bid to the Scottish Government’s Citizen’s Basic Income feasibility fund.

It is hoped that £250,000 will be awarded to fund the feasibility and design phase of the project over the next two years. The councils will then report back to the Scottish Government.