Members' Business - Gordon Lindhurst MSP: Barclay Review Recommendations and the Sport and Leisure Sector

That the Parliament notes the recommendations of the Barclay Review of Non-Domestic Rates 2016/17; recognises that the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution responded to the review in September 2017 by announcing that some of the recommendations would be taken up by the Scottish Government and that others merited "further thought and consideration”; notes that these other recommendations include a suggestion to restrict charitable relief for arms-length external organisations (ALEOs), a review of sports club relief and the implementation of rates for commercial and recreational activities in public parks; acknowledges what it understands are the concerns of ALEOs and community sports clubs regarding the collective impact of these recommendations which, it understands, if implemented, could cost millions of pounds for ALEOs, such as Edinburgh Leisure, which provides public recreational facilities often at a fraction of the cost of other sports facilities; highlights what it sees as the important role that ALEOs and community sports clubs play in providing accessible facilities that allow people to pursue healthy and active lifestyles; notes the assertion by ministers that “the Scottish Government’s over-arching policy objective [is] to make Scots active for life" and that "we want to get and keep more Scots active"; is concerned therefore that, if the review's recommendations are taken forward, there could be an increase on the amount consumers pay to access facillities or the facilities could be stripped back, which it believe would restrict access and ultimately impacting on the policy objective and the health of the nation; notes the view that it is important to consult directly with stakeholders during the consideration of non-domestic rates, and further notes the calls for the Scottish Government to fully consider the potential effects of implementing these recommendations.