Charges freeze for most Moray Council services
Moray Council has approved a freeze on most charges within its control for 2021/22.
Services within leisure, including FitLife? memberships; sports coaching; school meals; bulky uplift; garden and trade waste, and car parking charges in Elgin will not increase fees this year.
MOT certificates are frozen at 2020/21 prices with charges for taxi tests, re-tests and meter calibration increasing by 2%. The new EU Export Certificate requirement introduces a £40 charge for this.
The changes to harbour charges include a 2% 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. Users should apply as normal and will be charged pro-rata at the appropriate time. Fishing dues are being held at current rates.
Convener of Moray Council, Cllr Shona Morrison, 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.”