A public consultation on the cost of sports and physical activities offered by Aberdeenshire Council will open on Monday, August 29.

The consultation is taking place to allow the council to consider how best to keep services and facilities affordable for users while ensuring those services are sustainable in the long term.

In February, at a meeting of full council, Aberdeenshire councillors agreed to adopt a new charging framework to pave the way for greater consistency of charges levied by the council and make sure they are reviewed on a regular basis.

As part of the framework, councillors agreed the regular consideration of fees and charges should be supported by consultation.

As part of the consultation, an online survey has been created and everyone who completes it and wishes to be entered in the prize draw could be in with a chance of winning two three-month Active Aberdeenshire passes.

The online survey, which will be available for two weeks until Monday, September 12, can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/aberdeenshireleisure

Since 2012 Aberdeenshire Council has invested in four major new facilities for sports and physical activities, with a further three due for completion by 2018.

The principle of generating more income for the council where appropriate has been included in the medium-term financial strategy.

During engagement on the council’s budget earlier this year, those proposals received public support with 60% of respondents agreeing with the statement: “I would be prepared to pay more for a service if it would prevent that service being reduced/discontinued. This may mean, for instance, paying more for services such as leisure activities and trade waste.”