Freeze on most Moray Council charges

Moray Council has approved a freeze on most charges within its control for the next financial year.

Services within leisure, including FitLife memberships and sports coaching, will not increase during 2021/22.

School meals, bulky uplifts, collections of garden and trade waste as well as car parking charges in Elgin will also remain the same.

MOT certificates will also be frozen at current price as are fishing dues.

Meanwhile, changes to harbour charges include a two per cent increase in berth fees, in-line with other local authorities, and a suspension of invoicing for users of Findochty Harbour until the pontoons are replaced.

Shona Morrison, Moray Council's convenor, said: "This hasn’t been an ordinary year for anyone and, while council policy is to increase charges in-line with inflation, we recognise this isn’t the time to be doing that when services are not operating in a normal way.

"However, we must also appreciate there needs to be a balance between ensuring our increasing costs are covered so services remain viable, and residents getting value for money.

"This is a consideration we’ll bear in mind when it comes to setting the budget, including council tax, at the start of March."

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