Scouts struggle as rents raised by councils

THE future of one of Britain's oldest voluntary institutions, theScouting Movement, is under threat because of "enormous" rentincreases by councils trying to raise revenue in the face ofGovernment spending cuts, it is warned today.

More than one in four groups across the UK and Scotland have beenwarned of rent increases that could lead them to reduce outdooractivities, increase subscriptions, or even be wound up altogether.

The plight of one Glasgow group that faces closure after itsground rent bill set by Glasgow City Council this year rose by 600%and included passing on an administration charge has been describedby the Scout Association as "one of the horror stories".

The association says 2000 groups across the UK and 160 inScotland have been hit by the "unreasonable" rent increases.

The Scout Association has also warned that councils are seekingto raise money by taking away charity discretionary discounts onrates on property - costing groups hundreds of pounds a year.

The Scouting movement, which is 104 years old, is now launching aDon't Raise Our Rents internet campaign using social media sitessuch as Facebook and Twitter in a bid to protect local scouting.

Simon Carter of the Scout Association said: "We don't expect afree lunch, what we want is fair and affordable. And we don't thinkthat what's being served up across the UK is fair and affordable."

The 4th Glasgow Scout Group is among the worst affected groups inBritain, according to the Scout Association in what it described as"a deprived part of the city of Glasgow".

There, the ground rent on their scout headquarters in Maryhill,has gone up from pound(s)100 to pound(s)250, but this year the grouphas also been asked to pay a one-off administration fee for the newlease of pound(s)350.

Dr Graham Beastall, who manages the group said: "The proposedhuge increase is not affordable and threatens the existence of thescout group."

A Glasgow City Council spokesman said: "If the tenants arestruggling to meet this one-off charge we are happy to discuss withthem how it can be repaid."