Youth groups spell out concerns new charges to use premises owned by Highland Council will impact on children and families
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Youth groups have warned that new charges to use premises owned by Highland Council could impact on families.
The new charges, which came into effect this month, apply to the use of premises such as school halls, classrooms, community halls and social spaces.
They are set in bands according to the purpose with Brownies, Guides and Scout groups in the lowest band along with sporting, social, political and religious activities, musical competitions and blood donor sessions.
The new hourly charge for a classroom, small meeting room or equivalent space, for example, is £10.30 while a small hall will cost £21.96 per hour.
But concerns have been raised that the new charges will hit some youth groups and in turn could impact on families struggling with the cost of living.
One school football club discovered it faces an annual charge of £6000 to use facilities – whereas previously they had been free – while Suzanne Docherty, county commissioner for Girlguiding Inverness-shire, said the new hourly charges will impact on many of her organisation’s units which meet in gym halls.
“We are not objecting to paying, just the increase that has been necessary for the council to impose on us in such difficult times for many parents,” she said.
“We have been given notice that new charges will commence in August, but going from paying no rent to paying between £10.30 to £21.96 per hour is a big hike.”
She said some Girlguide units may have to consider putting up subscriptions to take account of the new charges but this could leave no funds for activities such as crafts, or for books or badges.
“This will impact on the girls whose parents struggle already to pay fees,” Mrs Docherty said.
She said halls around Inverness were few and far between so alternative venues were sparse. “Another problem we have already seen in Nairn is that not all venues are available,” she continued.
Nairn units all had to move to the Nairn Academy for meetings which had not made much of a difference in travel times for the girls. “This may not be the same if this policy is carried out throughout the council area,” she said. “The distance between some primary schools and academies may make the difference in girls not being able to get to the new venue as transport in our region is sparse to say the least.”
Cradlehall Primary School Football Club which runs sessions at Millburn Academy in Inverness for P2-P7 pupils is facing annual charges of more than £6000 to hire the outdoor pitch and indoor hall which were previously free.
Matt Smith, chairman of the voluntary-run club, said it is now trying to find solutions which could include raising the annual subscription of £30 per child, which he acknowledged could hit parents.
“It is a massive burden for the club,” he said. “We are going to have to cover a lot of money somehow.”
One option was to stop using the hall but the club would still have to find more than £2000 to use the pitch and it would also mean no indoor facilities for the children during the winter.
“I believe it is really important for children to have access to sport,” he said. “The last couple of years have been crazy for kids.”
A council spokeswoman said amendments to the hire charges were presented to the meeting of Highland Council on March 3 when councillors were asked to agree the 2022-23 budget – inclusive of budget savings, charges and income generation.
“The charging bands continue to enable uniformed and community groups to pay lower hire charges (band A) than semi-commercial or commercial applications (band B and C),” she said.
Details of the meeting can be found at www.highland.gov.uk/meetings.
Details of hire charges, terms and conditions and application form are available on the council website www.highland.gov.uk/facilitiesforhire.
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