Media Release: Wednesday 26 March

Council to look at new fees and charges for some user-pays services

Changes to fees and charges for some user-pays services and facilities provided by Horowhenua District Council will be recommended at next Wednesday's Council meeting.

Finance Manager Doug Law says that Council officers review the fees and charges each year.

Proposed changes include that fees and charges for wastewater, trade waste and cemeteries have an inflation adjustment increase to reflect current costs incurred by the Council.

Various changes are recommended for solid waste, water, parks and reserves - to be consistent with current market rates. There would also be various changes to liquor licensing fees, which are set by Government legislation.

Dog registration fees would increase by $10 - the first rise in three years and required to help cover costs of Animal Control.

And, it was also proposed that fees be introduced for Roading Corridor Access Requests, with new legislation resulting in the Council incurring costs that need to be on-charged to users.

There would no changes to fees and charges for services such as community halls and centres, building, parking and emergency management.

Mr Law says that in previous years the Council has adopted the fees and charges for the following year as part of the Draft Annual Plan process.

"Council is not legally obliged to do this, as they are simply enforcing the already adopted Revenue and Finance Policy. For the 2014/2015 year, the recommended procedure is to adopt the fees and charges separately to the Draft Annual Plan."

Mr Law says the exception is the proposed changes to Planning fees and charges. These are legislatively required to undergo a special consultative process and will be done so through the Draft Annual Plan consultation.

If adopted, the proposed Schedule of Fees and Charges would take effect from July 1.

The proposed Schedule of Fees and Charges is included in the agenda for next Wednesday's Council meeting. Copies of the agenda can be found at all Council service centres and libraries. The agenda is also available online to view and download at www.horowhenua.govt.nz.

Anyone wishing to speak to any of the proposed changes should contact the Council by 12noon on Wednesday 2 April.

ENDS

© Scoop Media