Tauranga City Council has backed away from a proposed $500 fee increase in mobile trader fees, instead opting for a break-even fee.
During this week's annual plan deliberations, council agreed to raise the fee of traders from the current $226 to $545 - $200 less than the proposed $750.
Mobile shops trading on Marine Parade over Christmas.
But it's a temporary measure until council can have a closer look at the issue when the bylaw is re-examined in September.
The current revenue received from the $226 fee in mobile shop licences for Tauranga's 100 mobile shops is $22,600. The total cost in city council staff time administering the mobile traders is $54,500 - on average $545 per licence.
Councillors voted for the $545 annual fee to cover costs, with the intention of having yet another look at the issue later on.
'This whole topic is fraught with danger, I'm over it,” says Mayor Stuart Crosby.
'We are never going to get it right.”
Councillors questioned why the mobile shops have to pay the same fee, whether they are on the roadside or just appearing at events. A justification for the $750 fee was compensation for traders' use of public land.
Councillor John Robson asked why positive recommendations to come out of the submission process are not included in the staff report.
'I'm concerned the options don't reflect the quality of content in the same way,” says John.
Councillor Catherine Stewart wants to know how many mobile shops there are and how the number can be limited.
Councillor Clayton Mitchell compared the mobile trader's $750 with the $750 required to renew a liquor licence and compared mobile shops' poorer ability to gain that back in trade compared with a liquor outlet.
Councillors voted for the cost recovery fee increase as an interim measure, with the expectation they will have a chance to re-examine the policy in September.
'We need a three-tiered system,” says Clayton.
'But we need more time to go into it.”
In May 2013 council changed the mobile trader rules doubling the numbers allowed on Marine Parade and making other changes to operational rules – some of which like the 60 minute time limit, are legally unenforceable.
The council also fielded a number of complaints from local retailers about the traders' beachfront commercial enclave and its noisy generators, and fumes, power leads running through drains and awnings over footpaths.
The new council had a go at the policy in September last year, arranging the tender process for Marine Parade.
4 comments
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Posted on 08-06-2014 10:32 | By Capt_Kaveman
dont care how many there are just keep them out of the main beach carparks only ones allowed should be Mr whippy and learn to swim, the rest can go over to the grass area across the road with no excuses
Has this Council got a backbone?
Posted on 08-06-2014 11:44 | By Annalist
Councillors should remember that traders get to run a business without the expense of premises and most importantly rates. They also get to run it on public land. A $750 annual fee is tiny compared to the thousands of dollars a year most permanent businesses who open all year have to pay in rates alone. To me it seems that councillors have caved in on just about everything that will reduce rates. Instead we're facing a 6.7% rates increase. Disappointing.
Mobile Shops
Posted on 08-06-2014 12:49 | By Gary & Judy
In that whole write up on this subject there is no comment on the reduction of expenditure by the Tauranga City Council. Why the high cost of administrating such a limited number of Mobile Shops. If the TCC were at least business like would they not look at reducing the wage costs of administration before upping the price. Also I always laugh at the local Mount Maunganui residents complaints, they complaint about everything, why do they want to live there all if they are so unhappy, it appears at their only joy in life is to complain.
Strange, policy change?
Posted on 08-06-2014 21:17 | By Murray.Guy
Councillors voted for the cost recovery fee increase as an interim measure, with the expectation they will have a chance to re-examine the policy in September.... TCC must have changed their policy without telling us as the policy was about 'COST RECOVERY', not profiteering. Some might recall the shock, horror when Brothel Fees were reduced, with the TCC explanation being, 'staff advised the actual cost is reflected by the fee'! So which is it TCC. Selective policy interpretation or just that you favour brothels offer the coffee/icecream vendor?
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