Council lets to resume

Aberdeenshire Council’s Education and Children’s Services has agreed to begin reinstating lets from August 2020.

A letter has been sent today sent to all groups affected by the temporary restriction on lets. It details the staged approach the council will be taking to reinstate all lets over time.

Lets for Education and Live Life Aberdeenshire facilities will resume on a phased and priority basis.

As always this will be dependent on the continued smooth progress out of lockdown and will be reviewed in line with Scottish Government guidance.

The following is an excerpt from the letter:

Aberdeenshire Council has identified the following priorities for the resumption of lets:

Direct delivery of services

• Groups delivering commissioned services funded Early Learning and Childcare (ELC)
• Active Schools
• Direct delivery of Community Learning and Development
• Primary / Secondary Education.

Priority 1: groups providing services that assist parents in returning to work

• Groups providing wraparound care (breakfast/after-school clubs), including existing private and commercial groups
• Childminders
• Nurseries / playgroups / early years groups providing childcare services. Includes existing private and commercial groups.

Priority 2: targeted services for vulnerable people and groups delivering primarily outdoor services.

• Existing Outdoor Sports groups delivering youth training sessions. Includes existing private and commercial groups
• Existing Outdoor businesses delivering Culture and Sport services outdoors.
• Existing Community groups delivering services to exclusively vulnerable people or people with acute health needs.

Priority 3: existing community and non-statutory education groups. Note any ‘expansion of services would fall into Priority 4.

• Existing Community Groups/organisation
• All Existing Dry Sports organisations. Existing is also applicable to teams within clubs
• Existing Adult education groups
• Existing Swim Clubs / Pool user groups
• Existing Cultural groups
• Existing Religious Groups (existing defined as already using a council facility).
• All other existing early years and children’s groups.

Priority 4: new commercial and community users.

• New Private or Commercial groups wanting lets.
• New services/teams within existing sports and cultural groups.

From 3 August 2020, Direct Delivery, Priority 1 and Priority 2 will be able to resume lettings arrangements.

For Priority 1, groups allowed to book term time space from 11 August 2020 to the end of 2020 calendar year. The situations will be reviewed in September 2020. If the normal facility is closed, then efforts will be made to source alternative premises. It is expected that appropriate prices apply. Any agreement on a let is reliant on the facility manager’s agreement. Groups/childminders are only allowed to deliver their ‘existing levels of service’ with any additional services treated as Priority 4.

For Priority 2, Outdoor Sports Groups and Businesses will be able to agree bookings for Term 1 (until 12 October 2020) for outdoor areas. There will be no access to indoor areas, pavilions and changing rooms at this stage. There is an expectation that prices would be as normal and a presumption that the service would reduce in size. For existing Community Groups, discussions can be had on indoor bookings of facilities until 12 October 2020.

For Priority 3, discussions can be had on bookings for Term 1 only, however any confirmation will be delayed until Priority 1 and 2 groups have had space allocated. The allocations may be fewer than in previous years due to pressure on space.

For Priority 4, no booking of let will be allowed.

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