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Letter from churches to MSPS regarding water and sewerage charges
Template of letter for use by churches to write to MSPS regarding the removal of church exemption from water and sewerage rates.
Posted on Feb 26, 2007
March 2007
Dear
Water and Sewerage Charges
In 2002 a scheme was introduced to exempt certain organisations from payment of water and sewerage charges to Scottish Water, the practical effect of which is that our church is currently exempted from payment. The exemption scheme has been extended until 2010.
When the Scottish Executive extended the scheme to 2010, it indicated that although a new system of charging would be introduced after that date there would be full consultation with those benefiting from the scheme and that the new system would take into account the special position of the charitable sector including churches.
The November 2006 consultation paper published by the Scottish Executive Environment Group contains no reference to any continuation of the exemption scheme and instead proposes that a range of charges will apply to all non-household users under a banded system based on compulsory metering of the whole non-domestic sector. Standing charges as well as volume charges discriminate against low users such as us. In addition, the proposed new surface drainage water charge would have a disproportionate effect on us as in common with other churches, the church and hall buildings have large roofs.
The consultation paper contains no explanation or justification for the removal of the exemption scheme.
We are deeply concerned about the adverse impact which the new proposals will have on the costs of maintaining our church and halls. Our buildings play a vital role in providing a facility which can be used not just by the congregation but also by other community groups and users. The value of the social capital provided by faith communities such as ourselves has been recognised by the Scottish Executive and indeed by the Westminster government.
I would invite you to consider the matter and to indicate whether you would support the charitable continuation of the current exemption scheme. I look forward to receiving your response.
Yours sincerely
