Waipā mayor Jim Mylchreest says releasing the council’s proposed fees and charges for consultation gives the public a “great opportunity” to feedback.
“We’ve got to make sure all these fees can be backed up in terms of the costs we rack up,” he told council’s Strategic Planning and Policy committee last week.
“If we can’t actually justify those charges, we should be looking at them (again).”
The council has recommended a two per cent increase to account for inflation and proposed some other changes.
· Building Control fees have increased between 2 and 2.5 per cent reflecting staff costs
· A new transportable build charge to cover the cost of staff inspecting ‘build in the yard’ houses moved on site into Waipā
· The introduction of extension of time requests
· Adult casket interment fees increase by 10 per cent to bring council into line with neighbouring Waikato and Matamata-Piako councils
· A new charge for ‘Doggy Do’ to encourage owners to clean up after their dogs
· Wheelie bin charges for 240 litres and 140 litre glass wheelie bins up by 17.5 and 4.25 per cent respectively
· Charges for the Cambridge Town Hall removed as the new trust will set and administer the fees
· Remove the general waiver of fees for reviewing the Traffic Management Plans of not-for-profit and charity events because those events generate considerable funds.
The four-week consultation period opened this week and close on Friday April 8.
Submissions can be made online, via email or through a hard copy submission delivered to Council offices or libraries in Cambridge and Te Awamutu.
The fees and charges are applicable for the 2022/23 year, commencing on July 1.
