This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Good news for community amateur sports clubs
15/01/2004
Plans to introduce mandatory rate relief for all
community amateur sports clubs in Scotland were announced
today.
Sports clubs which are registered as community amateur
sports clubs with the Inland Revenue will receive 80 per
cent mandatory rate relief.
Public Services Minister Andy Kerr said:
"The Executive is responding to the needs of these small
community-based organisations by introducing 80 per cent
mandatory rates relief. This will provide a real boost for
the many community amateur sports clubs in Scotland and
will bring us into line with the rest of the UK."
Responding to a Parliamentary Question from Dennis
Canavan, he added:
"The Executive intends to introduce 80 per cent
mandatory rate relief for sports clubs which are registered
as community amateur sports clubs with the Inland Revenue.
This will require primary legislation.
"Local authorities in Scotland have discretionary powers
to grant up to 100 per cent rate relief to qualifying
sports clubs. The level of discretionary relief granted
varies between local authorities. Any relief granted is
funded entirely by the Executive. Until mandatory rate
relief can be introduced, the Executive is seeking to
secure a voluntary agreement with all local authorities to
grant - from 1 April 2004 - at least 80 per cent
discretionary rate relief to community amateur sports
clubs."
Sports Minister Frank McAveety said:
"Sports clubs are a vital part not only of our sporting
infrastructure but also of community life throughout
Scotland. Two of the key objectives in Sport 21:2003-07 are
that over 1 million Scots will play sport in membership of
clubs and that Scotland will sustain 150,000 volunteers
contributing to the delivery of Scottish sport.
"This boost to local sports clubs will contribute to
achieving these objectives."