Welcome to the winter Newsletter for 2022. With that in mind, a Very Happy New Year to you all and we hope that you have had an enjoyable festive break.

As perhaps we all anticipated COVID remains with us in the mainstream system and we are continuing to manage expectations and requirements in line with Government announcements.

Since the last Newsletter there have been a few changes at Kirkhill;
 

• Kirkholm Properties have moved from the Studio to Suite 3 within Kirkhill House. Our contact details remain the same as;

grahamm@kirkholmproperties.co.uk

0141 639 9076/07395834536

• We would like to welcome a few new occupiers as well to Kirkhill;

Pure Lubrication who are based in Office 4.5 at the Studio

Air Protection who are now based in Office 4.6 at the Studio

AGL Wealth Management who are based in Suite2, Kirkhill House

Code Ninjas who are based in Suite 2A, Kirkhill House

Carolyn Neeson Unravelling Chronic Pain who is based in Office 27, Building 2

What we are proposing to introduce in the next series of emails are features on companies that are located in Kirkhill and Midholm to advise of their business activities, as we have had recent suces in cross-selling of business activities. Please do remember that the main board has a digital facility for the advertising of companies names and details of the business.

RATES REVALUATION

 As you may be aware the Assessor has commenced with the request for information for the revaluation of non-domestic property. This will take place in 2023, the following will explain further. As part of that, we had a request to provide detail of tenancies and that has been sent to the Assessors office. The actual revaluation has been delayed until April 2023, it will be based on rental values as of 1 April 2022. This will mean that properties’ rateable values will better reflect true market conditions, taking into account any COVID-19 effects.

“Scotland has already had its fundamental review of business rates in the form of the Barclay Report, published in 2017 and recommendation two in the report was that there "should be three-yearly revaluations from 2022 with valuations based on market conditions on a date one year prior (the 'Tone date').”The Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 2020 gained Royal Assent in March this year and as per Barclay’s recommendation provided for three-yearly revaluations while setting the date of the next revaluation at 1 April 2022, albeit with a tone date two years prior at 1 April 2020. This would have resulted in a valuation roll that reflected the rental values shortly after the lockdown came into effect and an alternative that preserved the revaluation date could have been to simply move the tone date to 1 April 2021, a year post lockdown. This is, of course, the proposed valuation date in England and Wales in respect of the deferred 2023 revaluations – so there will now be a fundamental difference in valuation dates when the revaluations finally take place between Scotland and England and Wales.”

It should also be noted that you may get from time to time an enquiry or rates letter from the Assessor looking for or wanting to confirm information. As such these returns have to be made within a specific deadline. We undernote an attachment from the Scottish Assessors website specific to this;

18 January 2021 Non-Domestic Rates (Scotland) Act 2020

The Scottish Parliament introduced new procedures that changed how Assessors gather information relevant to the valuation of properties for non-domestic rates. The procedures include the application of civil penalties where a person does not comply with a request for information. Failure to respond to an Assessor Information Notice could result in penalties of up to 71% of the Rateable Value of the property.The Guidance Note below outlines how Assessors will approach information gathering and provides advice on how ratepayers and their representatives can proactively provide the information required.

Assessor Information Notices and Civil Penalty Procedures Guidance Note

WEATHER

Today we have had a sample of winter. The programme of gritting/snow clearing is in place again for this year and the local contractor will complete this in accordance with weather reports and local requirements.The long term weather reports are;Tuesday 11th January to Thursday 20th January;Cloudy with some light rain or drizzle and light winds in the south on Tuesday, but clearer conditions and sunny spells spreading to most, if not all, areas through the day. From Wednesday, high pressure is expected to build in the south, bringing settled conditions and mostly light winds. Temperatures trending near average to mild, although there is still a risk of some overnight frost and fog. The north is likely to continue to see spells of cloud and rain, with some stronger winds. Confidence decreases through the period, but a return to generally more unsettled conditions across the UK is likely later on, with western and northwestern parts expected to continue to see the wettest and windiest weather. Temperatures are likely to remain around average.Friday 21st January to Friday 4th February;Conditions are expected to remain broadly unsettled and changeable through this period with occasional spells of wet and windy weather moving across from the Atlantic. Western and northwestern parts are likely to see the wettest and windiest conditions overall whilst eastern and southeastern parts probably seeing the most of any drier spells. Temperatures are likely to be slightly above average overall throughout but there remains a possibility of short-lived colder spells. Colder spells are likely to bring a risk of snow at times, though mostly over high ground in the north..As we all know weather can change from time to time and at short notice and these are just indications of what the forecast may be like.

MEETING ROOM

We can advise that progress is being made towards the cabin being installed although a slight delay has been encountered with the cabling for WIFI.

We have visited the contractor in Dalbeattie Iron and Pine (https://www.ironandpine.co.uk/) and attach photos of this production facility. The cabin is due for delivery in the next few weeks.

Prior to that the foundations have been put in. we were mindful that we should and flowing Cop 26 look at a more environmentally prospect. As such, we contracted with work to a Dundee based outfit called No More Digging (https://nomoredigging.co.uk/. We have attached the link. Basically, they calculate the load-bearing of the facility, ground conditions and they install a “screw” directly in position and level that will accommodate the structure being placed on top. This installation of foundations for the main building and the deck area was completed in one day. It has caused little disturbance to the top surface and uses less materials and Co2 in the process. We can recommend this process and hope that the attached may be of interest.

There will be some disruption to the access road into Kirkhill Office Park w/c 24th February as the meeting room is due to be delivered on the 24th & 25th February. We will of course update as we hear more re final preparations/instructions on delivery.

FOOD BANK APPEAL

We have within Building 2 an occupier ProDreamUSA which is run by Brendan McKenna. He has an involvement with the East Renfrewshire Food Bank and as such he has asked that an appeal be issued for donations. We are aware that charitable events and requests are personal to each individual and as such we undernote the contact details for Brendan should you wish to take part in this request.

brendan@prodreamusa.co

mobile; 07429527300

The types of items they are looking for are tinned meat/fish, cereal, jams, jars of pasta sauce, dry pasta/rice and oats.