Children’s music lessons face substantial rise in fees in another blow to after-school activities
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Fees for music lessons in the Highlands will rise substantially in the next school year in what is another bombshell development for after-school activities in the north.
The exact sums are not yet known but it will come as a blow to children and young people across the north, many of whom rely on High Life Highland (HLH) to provide tuition where it is not freely available in schools.
The change stems from the financial crisis faced by Highland Council and its at arm’s reach leisure provider HLH as rising costs have forced it to an “exercise to establish the true cost of delivering activities and events.”
Sharp and substantial rises
The rises are understood to be sharp and substantial as HLH says that it is trying to “protect jobs and services across communities” and to do that it is concentrating on retaining the most used activities that it offers.
It follows news that the council will be raising costs to hire public buildings, a move agreed in this year’s budget but which some councillors fear is “threatening the very existence” of voluntary organisations.
Concerns have been raised that the council’s financial crisis is pushing the council into raising prices, including through HLH facilities and services, like renting premises and other services.
Those facilities are relied on by voluntary and charitable organisations who, for example, offer free football training for primary school kids but if they don’t find other venues may simply have to fold.
Aiming to protect jobs and services
A spokesperson for HLH said: “High Life Highland has worked closely with colleagues in Highland Council to ensure the charity has a balanced budget, whilst doing everything possible to protect jobs and services across communities.
“As part of this work, HLH and the council have undertaken an exercise to establish the true cost of delivering activities and events which will mean the implementation of a participation charge to a small proportion of HLH’s previously free or low-cost activities in order to cover all overheads and to support the longer-term sustainability of HLH in delivering its charitable objectives.
On the issue of price hikes to rent halls and other council-owned or HLH-run premises the spokesperson added: “All HLH term-time activities in school premises that take place prior to 6pm and remain free of charge to participants during term time will remain unaffected.”
A Highland Council spokesperson said: “Full details of hire charges, terms and conditions, etc are available on the council website as previously agreed by members on Thursday March 3, 2022.
“Let applicants/groups when submitting a let application under Declaration of Hirer confirm that they have 'read and accepted all the Terms & Conditions of hire' which is inclusive of point 3.1
“All lets are subject to the charges approved by the Highland Council (prices are all subject to review on April 1 each year) and a copy of the current Table of Charges can be found on our website.
“In regard to specific details or examples for let bookings, it would not be appropriate for Highland Council to provide comment as customer details are confidential.”
