Last Thursday councillors agreed to set up a trust to run sport and culture services across Aberdeenshire. But this was with caution as we were unsure whether the Scottish Government would change the tax rules, thereby making the move much less attractive. Well yesterday the Scottish Government clarified matters. Sort of.
Finance secretary Derek Mackay said that leisure and cultural venues currently run by council arm’s-length bodies (known in the jargon as ALEOs) will continue to benefit from charity relief from non-domestic rates.
But he also said: “However I am aware that some councils are planning to increase the numbers of ALEOs and the number of facilities no longer paying rates. It is my intention to mitigate against this by offsetting any further charity relief benefit to councils to deter future ALEO expansion.”
So does that mean Aberdeenshire qualifies as the decision pre-dates his announcement? Or because it is not yet operating that Aberdeenshire will lose out on savings worth nearly £1m? The council is awaiting clarification from the Scottish Government.
Only two of Scotland’s local authorities do not benefit from this saving. And we are one of them.
By the way, I noticed last night that Portlethen Library has a poster up saying there is information available there about the council’s proposals.