Highland Council premises fees hike 'threatening the very existence' of school groups across the north
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Planned price hikes by Highland Council that could put dozens of local voluntary, charitable and youth organisations out of operation are to be challenged at a full meeting of the local authority this week.
Concerns have been raised that the council’s financial crisis is pushing it into raising prices through High Life Highland facilities and services including for rental premises and other services.
Local groups have been voicing their concerns as well with some primary school football training groups in Inverness starting to use public parks because to sign up to renting council properties risks their viability.
The problem is that many could not guarantee sufficient attendance to break even while others were working on the basis of offering football training on a voluntary basis, so while training will continue this year it may not after the summer.
Now a motion has been brought to this week’s council meeting in support of such groups by Lib Dem Councillors Richard Gale, Alex Graham and Jan McEwan as well as Sutherland Independent Jim McGillivray.
They warn: “The level of letting fees is threatening the very existence of such organisations and if they have to close and withdraw their services the knock-on effect for children’s mental health and the ability for working parents to continue to work is considerable, with the added impact on the local economies that will ensue.”
So they are calling for the council to “review the letting charges for all such organisations and introduce a reduction in letting fees of 50 per cent for all charitable and voluntary organisations.
“By doing this we will ensure that the invaluable services that they provide across Highland will continue to the benefit of all communities.”
Speaking about the motion, Cllr Graham gave one example that he had been told about, saying: “The after-school football club in Drakies are now charging £2 a child when previously it was free.
“High Life Highland had been charged for the after hours use of the school, which is a bit of a strange loop because High Life was created to act as at the arms length leisure provider for the council and now that High Life is being charged seems a bit strange.”
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.”
