Cashless parking across the shire

Aberdeenshire Council is to introduce cashless parking across the region. The council has teamed up with RingGo which allows motorists to pay via a mobile phone app, by text or by phone.

The traditional methods of paying for parking will, however, continue to be available for those unable to use the new system.

Personally I prefer just to make use of the free first 30 minutes!

https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/news/local/cashless-car-parking-to-be-introduced/

No plans at the moment to close police office

After hearing from a resident there were proposals to close Portlethen police office I contacted Police Scotland to ask what is being planned. It seems that there is nothing concrete. At the moment. Here is the response:

“Police Scotland has instigated a national project reviewing all buildings and estates, which North East Division are participating in. This includes assessing all our buildings, some of which are aging, or in need of considerable modernisation or maintenance, or no longer fit for purpose.

“The review will consider how best to deliver a highly visible, sustainable policing presence throughout our communities. It will also consider any opportunities locally to share accommodation, improve partnership working, and reduce costs, whilst maintaining a high quality service.

“Following initial review, any buildings deemed appropriate for further consideration will be subject of consultation with the Scottish Police Authority, Local Authorities, Communities and Key Stakeholders.

“This review will be carried out in stages to maintain stability in the North East.

“At present, no documentation for change has been submitted regarding Portlethen Police Station and no decision in respect of it has been made.

“Any such documentation would not necessarily mean removing police provision in a community – it may simply be the catalyst to finding more suitable, modern and cost effective alternatives.”

What we will pay in council tax

The final figures for what we will pay in council tax and water charges have now been released by Aberdeenshire Council. These figures take into account the Scottish Government-imposed  increase for homes in band E and above (affecting 57.59% of homes in the North Kincardine ward), as well as the 2.5% increase put forward by the council’s SNP/Labour administration.
The national increase and the local increase combined will increase the total council tax income for Aberdeenshire to £133 million.
There is help available for those on a low income under a council tax reduction scheme, which replaced council tax benefit in 2013.
Anyone who is liable to pay council tax can apply for council tax reduction, which is a means tested scheme calculated on the basis of a household’s make-up and income.
The scheme includes a reduction specifically intended for people living in a band E-H house. People already in receipt of council tax reduction and living in band E to H properties do not need to submit a second claim.
To qualify for this new reduction you must meet one of the criteria listed below:
• Single claimants must have an income of less than £321 per week (£16, 692 per year).
• Couples and claimants with dependent children must have an income of less than £479 per week (£24,908 per year).
In order to qualify for the reduction you need to submit a valid claim along with the required supporting evidence. You can apply on-line at http://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/benefits-and-grants/welfare-reform/council-tax-reduction/
If you are liable for council tax from 1 April 2017 and think you might qualify it is important that you submit a claim for council tax reduction by 30 April 2017 as backdating is limited to one month for working age claimants and three months for those of pension credit age.
If you have any queries on the above scheme you can email asat@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or phone 03456 608 1200.
To find out which band your house is in click on this link: https://www.saa.gov.uk/

Road will be ready for new school

I have been assured that Newlands Drive in Hillside should be ready for the opening of the new primary school next month. Furthermore, the sign for School Brae which leads to the school should be going up shortly.

Newlands Drive is subject to a legal agreement between Aberdeenshire Council and Stewart Milne Homes to ensure it is substantially complete and fully open to serve new school prior to its opening. That said, Newlands Drive is unlikely to be formally adopted by the council until late 2018 or even early 2019.

The link between Newlands Drive and Barnhill Gardens is in an incomplete state and council officers are already pressing the developer to ensure that they remain aware of their responsibility to continue to maintain site to a suitable safe standard for public use. The state of the metal fencing and existing binder course surfacing has already been drawn to developers attention and this will continue to be monitored.

Welcome U-turn over business rates

That’s a welcome U-turn today by finance secretary Derek Mackay MSP on the business rates crisis facing the North East. The massive protest from the business community has been heard. That’s no small achievement.
As Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie MSP commented: “Finally the Scottish government has realised the seriousness of the problems facing businesses.”
However it does yet again pull the rug out from under the feet of Aberdeenshire Council’s SNP/Labour administration. We saw them defending an iniquitous council tax raid last year until Derek Mackay changed his mind on that, and now their defence of Scottish Government inaction (until now) on business rates is left exposed. While it must be hard for the council administration to follow the U-turns of the finance secretary, the needs of Aberdeenshire ought to come first.
Unfortunately the government support is limited to the hospitality sector and to offices … which leaves nurseries still facing a significant rates increase. They can appeal, but that will take some time to be heard and meanwhile they face paying the higher sums.

In the meantime Aberdeenshire Council is asking for views on how best to structure a Business Rates Relief Scheme for Aberdeenshire: https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/apps/news/release.aspx?newsid=4639

Up to £3 million was set aside as enabling money in Aberdeenshire Council’s revenue budget agreed at full council on 9 February to be used to support a rates relief scheme.
Figures from SNP MSP Gillian Martin in the Press and Journal showed just 38% of businesses in Aberdeen would have been better off or have had no change to their rates, compared to 73% in Glasgow, 62% in Edinburgh and 70% in Dundee. The Shire is in the same boat as the city. Some of our businesses were being clobbered.

Who pays for council services?

This article from LGIU Scotland explains how councils are funded:

With a few exceptions, it looks like the majority of councils will increase Council Tax bills by 3%, the maximum rise they are allowed, and the first rises for nine years. At the same time, changes have been made to higher banded domestic properties meaning those residents will pay more in any case, as much as 22.5% for those in the highest banded properties.

Also, many businesses have seen their Non-Domestic rates bills increase considerably as a result of the 2015 revaluation of property values, the first since 2008, leading to warnings that many businesses will be forced to lay off staff or even close.

Understandably, all of this renewed interest in local taxation has led many to once again ask – who pays for local services, and what do they get in return?

It is often said that Council Tax only pays for a small proportion of the cost of local services such as Education, Social Care, Environmental services, and Libraries and Museums etc. While this is certainly true, it is also a bit more complex than that.

Council Tax funds around 14% of expenditure on local services; 17% is funded from Fees and Charges such as entrance fees to sports centres and parking charges; 17% is funded from Business Rates, although the rate poundage is set nationally; and 52% is funded from Central Government grant. These figures, of course, vary slightly from Council to Council. And, the 52% Central Government grant is itself raised from general taxation, with the main sources being Income Tax, Value Added Tax (VAT), National Insurance and Corporation Tax.

In other words, as an individual you may be paying for local services through Council Tax on the property you occupy, plus parking charges for the car you drive, a portion of Income Tax and National Insurance on your earnings, and a portion of the VAT on the goods and services you buy. In addition, if you own your own business you may be paying through Non-Domestic rates and Corporation Tax.

So, the answer is far from straightforward.

Leaving aside Fees and Charges which are for services you choose to use, how do you judge whether you are getting value for money from the taxes that you pay?

Again the answer is not straightforward. If you have no children, or your children are not at school, you may not place great value on Education services which account for around 33% of Council expenditure; or if members of your family are not in need of social care, you may not place great value on Social Work services which account for around 27% of Council expenditure; and as domestic refuse collection has moved from a weekly service to a fortnightly or three-weekly service, you may feel you are getting less of a service than previously.

But of course, these arguments ignore the fact that both Council Tax and Business Rates are local taxes, not charges for services, and are a way of funding services for the benefit of all, not just for the benefit of those who use the services. A fact not always understood by the public.

As mentioned previously, the Business Rate poundage is set nationally. In contrast, the level of Council Tax is set locally, collected locally and retained locally – so it is truly a local tax, albeit increases are restricted to 3%. However, even after twenty-five years of existence, the variation in the levels of Council Tax between Councils is not nearly as great as you might think, particularly between the four Cities and between neighbouring Councils. So, comparisons are not as valuable as you might think.

One of the consequences of a nine-year Council Tax freeze has been that it has stifled interest in Council budgets and Council services. So, in this regard, all the recent media coverage of Council Tax rises and Business Rates increases can be viewed as a boost for local democracy.

Looking ahead, will all of this heightened interest in local services prove to be a one off? I don’t think so. Even though a 3% rise is likely to become the norm over the next few years, the ever increasing pressure on Council budgets is likely to ensure a continued interest in local services, albeit the focus will be more on service redesign and service cuts.

More speed cameras on the A90

This strikes me as being a step too far – according to media reports the average speed cameras are to cover the Charleston to Stonehaven stretch of the A90.
However there is no work taking place on the A90 at Bridge of Muchalls, Newtonhill, Cammachmore or Portlethen. It is the right thing to do at Stonehaven and Charleston though.

The Courier reports that the 50 miles per hour cameras are due to be put in place this week by Aberdeen Roads Ltd, the contractor for the £745 million Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route/Balmedie-Tipperty scheme.

I have asked the AWPR managing agent to confirm (or not) whether there will be average speed cameras between Muchalls and Portlethen.
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/…/average-speed-cameras-…/

Spotlight on the rural area

The Aberdeen bypass, planning and noticeboards were among the issues discussed tonight by North Kincardine Rural Community Council. Ten members of the public watched – and participated – in the discussions.

The AWPR was as ever a major cause of concern especially regarding the impact on local roads: potholes and damaged verges. Residents were urges to report all potholes as any future claims for damage will be valid only if that is so.

The meeting was assured that Aberdeenshire Council will be expecting the road construction joint venture companies to contribute to the costs of returning the roads to a reasonable standard. Reference was also made to an extension to the 50mph average speed cameras to cover Charleston to Stonehaven.

The North Deeside Road junction with the B979 at Milltimber Bridge was condemned as being bewildering for drivers.

It will be 10 years on 16 April since Lairhillock primary school opened.

The community council committed to keep noticeboards at Corbie Hall, Banchory Devenick School and Lairhillock School. Noticeboards would be shared at other sites, such as Cookney Hall and St Ternan’s Church. Existing noticeboards will be removed as they fall into disrepair.

No objections to new planning applications are to be lodged.

An update was given on progress with installing broadband across the area.

There was a warning of thieves siphoning diesel from tanks at unoccupied houses.