Good news for Scout Halls - Water Charges Exemption Scheme extended to 2015
23/10/2009
(Article below reprinted from SCVO’s Third Force E-News, 23 October 2009)
Thousands of smaller Scots voluntary organisations have been handed a lifeline during the financial crisis with the announcement that charities and voluntary organisations will continue to be exempt from water and sewerage charges.
John Swinney said the scheme will continue until at least 2015. The income level necessary to qualify for an exemption will also increase in April next year from £50,000 to £60,000, and rise £1,500 each year after that.
Making the announcement, Swinney said: "In the current economic climate it is especially important that we support the voluntary sector’s ability to help increase sustainable economic growth, build on our economic recovery plan and help Scotland emerge faster and stronger from the downturn."
The sector has campaigned tirelessly on the issue since charges were first mooted when Scottish Water was created in 2002.
After extensive pressure, an exemption scheme was introduced in 2002 for a four year period to help smaller organisations to prepare to pay for their water services.
The scheme was further extended from 2006 to 2010 when consultations showed strong support for retaining the scheme.
Last year charities and churches mounted a campaign against future charges to coincide with the Scottish Government’s consultation on water charges, led by the Water Industry Commission for Scotland.
The organisations involved argued that removal of the exemptions and reliefs would have a crippling impact on many churches and charities.
Had the exemptions come to an end, it is estimated that, depending on the size of their premises, water charges could be up to a third of the annual income of some small charities and would force many of them to close.
Now news that the scheme is to be extended has been broadly welcomed across Scotland’s voluntary sector.
Jennie Macfie, chair of the Promoters Arts Network (PAN) whose membership is made up of village halls in Highland, said it was good news for her members: "I am delighted at the news that water charges will continue to be waived for smaller charities," she said. "Volunteer hall committees are facing enough challenges already, with rising fuel costs and an increasing burden of regulation and legislation, so this is one less thing to worry about, at least until 2015."
Swinney also announced that charities that move premises would no longer need to reapply for their exemption, providing they still met the exemption criteria.
Lucy McTernan, deputy chief executive of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), said: "SCVO very much welcomes the improvements to the Government’s Water Services Charges Exemption Scheme. Charities and Voluntary organisations across Scotland are facing tough challenges, with increasing demand on their services coupled with decreasing income.
"This move, which ensures that charities and voluntary organisations can continue to be eligible for exemption from water and sewerage charges, will improve financial planning and capacity into 2015."
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