Common good funds ‘not priority’
John Swinney MSP and Cllr Mike Williamson
“Through the council’s budget-setting process we are putting forward proposals to address this, however, we do not currently have a timescale for the registers to be published.
“This does not prevent anyone from contacting the council to enquire about whether a specific site is common good land.”
Apart from Pitlochry, other common good registers in Perth and Kinross include Aberfeldy, Abernethy, Alyth, Auchterarder, Blairgowrie, Coupar Angus, Crieff, Kinross and Perth.
Cllr Williamson and Mr Swinney also highlighted the fact the Pitlochry common good fund committee has not met in two years either.
The council spokesperson says this is because the town’s fund does not generate enough income to make it worth holding a committee meeting.
They continued: “Pitlochry common good fund last met on February 24, 2016.
“Meetings are only held when there is competent business to consider.
“Unlike some of the other common good funds, the Pitlochry common good fund doesn’t benefit from annual income from rents or investments.
“The smaller common good funds, such as Pitlochry, adopt a prudent approach which restricts awards of financial assistance in line with the income available for the financial year.
“The 2017/18 income for Pitlochry was £45 which is minimal and doesn’t justify the setting of a budget.”