Report to the People
21st April 2008
Water Pressure
Voluntary
and charitable organisations are sometimes called “Cinderella services” -
and not because of their passion for ballroom dancing in dangerous footwear.
It’s because, despite delivering vital services and value for money,
they can be taken for granted by their ugly government sisters.
And
times have become harder in recent months, with the Scottish Government’s
harsh settlement for local government giving councils a smaller share of the
Scottish budget than ever before. As
we know, voluntary sector groups are bearing the brunt of the resulting
financial pressures.
Then,
as if this wasn’t enough, the spectre of crippling water rates raised its
head.
Under
an agreement introduced by the previous government, the voluntary and charitable
sectors are exempt from water rates. This
is particularly important for churches, as they have large floor spaces, but use
relatively little water. This exemption, though, was put into doubt by Ministers
who began consulting on its future.
Together
with colleagues, local churches and voluntary groups, therefore, I had been
pressing for the scheme’s extension. Perhaps
due to this intervention, or perhaps intervention from a higher power, the
Scottish Government saw sense. Ahead
of a debate on a Labour motion regarding the difficulties facing the voluntary
sector last Thursday, Ministers tabled an amendment conceding that the exemption
should be extended.
We’ll
need to see the details, but there’s no doubt that this is a victory, not just
for our community’s voluntary, church and other charitable organisations, but
for those who rely on the services they provide.
Back to Current Reports to the People
[ HOME ] [ News ] [ Report to the People ] [ Interact ] [ Links ] [ E-Mail ]
[ Copyright ] [ Directgov ] [ Scottish Parliament ]