Water Rates Exemption

Water Charges Exemption – a Petition to the Scottish Parliament

For many years, St. Mungo's has enjoyed exemption from paying water and sewerage charges – the Scottish Government has been proposing to abolish this exemption, which indirectly benefits many community organisations as well as churches, and will put extreme pressure on our church's financial position, due to the large roof and ground area of both Church and Hall.

However, there is a real prospect that we can reverse this, if we have enough public support.

Please could you help all churches and charities by adding your name to the Dunfermline Presbytery e-petition click here

Background

In November, 2006, the Scottish Executive published a Consultation Paper on Non-household Water Charges. The Consultation Paper proposed the general introduction of
metering in non-domestic properties, i.e. St. Mungo's. All such properties will require to pay both volumetric and standing charges (the basis of calculation of standing charges being calculated upon water usage rather, than, as at present, rateable value) combined
with a surface drainage charge calculated on the basis of the roof area and hard surface area of the property (for example, car parks) draining into the public sewers. The existing exemptions and reliefs for churches and charities are proposed to be abolished from 2010.