Dallas community plan for outdoor gym and pitch on hold due to Moray Council tax bill for derelict site

A plan to provide a rural village with recreational facilities on the site of two derelict buildings is being held up by red tape.

Last November, Dallas Community Development Trust applied to demolish an unused shop and house to build a fenced pitch, area with outdoor gym equipment and parking space.

However, Moray Council has since deemed the group of seven volunteers liable for non-domestic rates and council tax for the buildings next to the Houldsworth Institute, despite the structures being unoccupied and in a state of disrepair for many years.

Dallas resident and trustee, Fiona Gibson, confirmed the trust is seeking charity status but currently has no bank account or income.

She claimed: “We were excited to get this project of the ground but sadly the council is preventing us from doing so.

“This property is a safety hazard at the centre of our village. Before we bought it, residents complained about it to the council and were told it was condemned.

“However, the tax burden of around £8000 is prohibiting us from moving forward.”

Fellow trustee, Jim Mountford, explained that more than a decade ago, plans were mooted for a wind farm and community benefit fund at Dallas. Dallas Community Development Trust was set up to administer the funding, however, the project fell through.

When the derelict site for the new proposal off Main Street became available, the trust was reformed to buy it on behalf of the community. The community was consulted to provide suggestions for alternative uses then voted on the preferred option.

Jim said: “After prolonged and expensive negotiations due to problems over ownership, it was purchased with the aid of a grant of £80,000 from Rothes Wind Farm via Heldon Community Council. This was so that we could demolish the existing buildings and create a leisure facility for use of the community.

“However, after purchase, we were hit with council tax demands for the house and non-domestic rates for the general store, despite the fact that the site has long been regarded as an ugly and dangerous eyesore.”

The trust believes the shop was originally operated by an Aberdeenshire company, then by resident Ethel Hay who lived in the bungalow behind it. Apparently after her death, it remained unoccupied.

“We understood that the property had been condemned for structural reasons and foresaw no problem in securing permission to demolish it,” said Jim. “Despite efforts on our behalf by various councillors, local authority officers remain adamant that we are liable for these payments and an appeal to Grampian Assessors gained a similar negative response.”

The trust is being asked to pay from the date of purchase, for both the derelict shop and bungalow.

The Gazette asked Grampian Assessor about the decision to charge Dallas Community Development Trust tax for the dilapidated buildings.

A spokesperson replied: “Although the assessor is responsible for the valuation of properties for the purposes of non-domestic rating and the banding of properties for council tax purposes, the billing, collection and granting of any relief of non-domestic rates and council tax is the responsibility of the local councils.”

A Moray Council spokesperson confirmed that council tax and non-domestic rates are levied in accordance with the details stated on the valuation list and valuation roll, respectively.

She said: “These statutory documents are maintained by Grampian Assessor and the taxes are levied in accordance with the property details held on these documents.

“If a taxpayer qualifies for exemption from payment they may not need to pay - the criteria for qualification is defined by law. Since the trust qualifies for no exemption on either council tax or non-domestic rates, these taxes are payable in this instance.

“This has been explained at length to the trust.”