Scottish Government
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Water charge exemptions

Small charitable organisations are set to benefit from improvements to the Government's Water Services Charges Exemption Scheme.

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney, announced the changes to the Exemption Scheme which will ensure that registered charities with a small income will continue to be eligible for exemption from water and sewerage charges from 2010 to 2015.

Key changes to the scheme will include:

  • Any registered charity that moves premises from 1 April 2010, that continues to meet all other criteria, will retain its exemption. Any registered charity that has moved premises since 1 April 2006, and as a result lost its exemption, will, from 1 April 2010, be able to reapply for exemption.
  • Any registered charity that receives a permanent liquor licence from 1 April 2010 will continue to be eligible for exemption. Any registered charity that received a permanent liquor licence from 1 September 2009 will, from 1 April 2010, be able to reapply for exemption.
  • The maximum income criteria will be increased from 1 April 2010 from 50,000 pounds to 60,000 pounds, and will increase by 1500 pounds per annum thereafter.

Welcoming the changes, Mr Swinney said:

"I am delighted to announce the improvements to the Exemption Scheme. These, along with the extension to the regulatory period announced previously, will ensure that small charities, churches and voluntary organisations that meet the Exemption Scheme criteria will continue to be exempt from paying water and sewerage service charges.

"In the current economic climate it is especially important that we support the voluntary sector's ability to help increase sustainable economic growth, build on our economic recovery plan and help Scotland emerge faster and stronger from the downturn."

The Exemption Scheme applies to certain small organisations, largely charitable and voluntary, that formerly received reliefs under the three area water authorities on a discretional basis.

Following the creation of Scottish Water, the Exemption Scheme was introduced in 2002 for a four year period to help these organisations to prepare to pay for their water services. The scheme was extended from 2006 to 2010. Consultation during that period demonstrated strong support for retaining the Exemption Scheme. The Scottish Government has therefore looked again at the Exemption Scheme to ensure that it is both equitable and coherent going forward.

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