Moray Council to consider increasing dozens of service charges
Moray Council have revealed a raft of service charge and policy changes in advance of this year’s budget.
Some services looking to increase prices include weekend weddings, burials, bin uplifts and school meals.
Plans to increase councillors’ pay by up to 40 per cent and the introduction of a visitor levy to Moray will also be discussed at a meeting tomorrow.
Since 2023, Moray Council has steadily increased the price of services in-line with inflation each year until 2027.
This year, council officers have set a default increase of 3.6 per cent, but a number of council services will increase beyond it.
Back in January, councillors voted to increase Fit Life memberships by £1 a month.
Use of Moray Council’s marriage room, which recently moved into the council headquarters, is set to see some of the biggest rises.
A new flat rate of £145 will cover the attendance of up to 20 guests.
However, weddings taking place on a Saturday will have additional charge of £250 (up from £145) to cover staff costs.
Primary school meal charges will be increasing by 10p to £2.55.
Brown bin permits will go up from £50 per bin to £52 per bin each year.
Should anyone be planning to open a zoo in Moray, the cost of a zoo licence will also increase by £31.
Back in January, the council agreed the charges for adult swimming and swimming lessons would not be changing.
Grass sports pitches were kept as last year’s prices but astro turf facilities and sports hall bookings will be increased.
Parking charges across Moray are not planned to increase this year.
Councillors are also set to vote on a new pay deal thanks to the Scottish Parliament.
A change in legislation has shuffled councillor pay bands around, allowing Moray Council to increase the councillor pay allowance.
Council officers have stated the pay increases for the eight current senior councillor positions is in the region of £256,000.
Councillors will also decide whether to move ahead on proposals for a visitor levy, similar to the one currently being consulted on in the Highlands.
Should plans move forward, the earliest the levy would start to be implemented would be February 2026.
A full breakdown of all the charges and plans can be found on Moray Council’s website ahead of the meeting on Wednesday.
