Moray ex-service club in rates plea

Lossiemouth royal naval association believes it deserves same treatment as royal British legion

By Eilidh Davies

Published:

A Moray club for ex-servicemen and women is hoping local councillors will grant it non-domestic rates relief, despite a recommendation by the council’s chief financial officer that the application be refused.

Councillors will be asked to agree to a recommendation not to award the Royal Naval Association’s (RNA) Lossie-mouth branch rates relief, on the basis that the club does not qualify for charitable status under rating legislation, when the policy and resources committee meets in Elgin tomorrow. But earlier this year, Moray Council went against a recommendation by a council officer not to grant rates relief to Royal British Legion clubs in the area and those behind the latest application claim this precedent should mean that they too receive rates relief.

The rates relief issue relates to whether the club earns most of its income from the sale of alcohol, a factor which, according to legislation brought into effect by a court case in 1994, prevents it from qualifying for a discount.

Tony Stowe, branch secretary, said the sale of alcohol was not the main function of the club. “Next year we will be celebrating 60 years of serving the public in Lossiemouth and the surrounding area,” he said.

“We are a national charity. For many years we have looked after the Remembrance Sunday since the British Legion packed in about 10 years ago. We also accommodate the RAF and we support local charities.”

Mr Stowe said that of the £12.50 membership fee the club charges, £10 goes to its headquarters in London which then disperses it to various charities.

He said that the club had struggled following the implementation of the smoking ban in Scotland.

Mr Stowe added: “I can’t see how the council can differentiate between the British Legion and ourselves. We are also a national charity and there is no reason why we shouldn’t have it as well.”

A report by James Taylor, tax manager with Moray Council, says: “It is recommended on the basis of existing rating legislation and previously established judicial precedents, that this application for an award of discretionary relief is refused.”

The club was founded as the Royal Naval Old Comrades Club by local trawlermen returning from service in the Royal Navy Patrol Service and Coastal Minesweeping duties. Today it has more than 400 members.