Introduction
Council is facing all of the same cost pressures that are impacting on households and businesses. These pressures include inflation, high interest rates and more expensive insurance. Council sets fees and charges to allocate a reasonable cost sharing between the ratepayers and the people or businesses using the service. There is no perfect balance between the two but the greater the public good element, the more the cost is funded by general rates.
If Council chooses not to increase these fees and charges in line with other cost increases, they will need to be funded by a larger rate increase. We are very mindful of the cost of living pressures on households and businesses and have worked hard to minimise the increases.
Council is proposing to increase fees and charges by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 5.6% but some fees, as detailed in this document, are proposed to increase by more. Increases above CPI are designed to better achieve the recovery targets from the beneficiaries of Council services as set out in Council’s Revenue and Financing Policy. This Policy explains ‘who pays and why’ for each of Council’s activities and outlines the expected private benefit/public cost split to determine the expected level of cost recovery.Cost increases over CPI are in those areas where a greater proportion of costs should be met by applicants and other users of Council services.
Proposals
Nelson City Council is seeking your views on the following proposals:
- to increase some resource management fees and charges by more than the CPI
- to increase annual environmental monitoring fees and charges by CPI
- to increase fees and charges under the Food Act 2014 by more than CPI
- to create an additional cemetery and crematorium fee for an activity that is managed under the Urban Environments Bylaw
- to increase marina fees and charges under the Navigation and Safety Bylaw by more than CPI
- to increase the public health fees by more than CPI
- to increase the York Valley landfill fees and charges by more than CPI
- Retaining the existing charges
- Adopting a lower increase in charges
- Adopting the proposed amendments outlined in this statement of proposal, or a variation of these
- Adopting a higher increase in charges
All of the proposed fees and charges listed above are available to read in the PDF named Attachment 1 on this webpage.
Special Consultative Procedure – we want your feedback
Council is required to undertake a special consultative procedure before introducing or amending any fees or charges under the Resource Management Act and the Food Act. Council is also required to consult the public before amending any fees or charges provided for under the Urban Environments Bylaw and Navigation and Safety Bylaw, and is taking the opportunity to include these proposed amendments in this statement of proposal. The opportunity is also taken to introduce some additional changes to fees and charges.
Based on community feedback, the outcomes of this special consultative procedure could include:
- Retaining the existing charges
- Adopting a lower increase in charges
- Adopting the proposed amendments outlined in this statement of proposal, or a variation of these
- Adopting a higher increase in charges
Read the full Statement of Proposal by clicking on the PDF link on this webpage.
How to have your say
Council would like to know what you think of the proposed changes outlined in this document. In making decisions on these proposals, Council will be taking account of all submissions made.
A submission form is included at the end of the full document linked below. Submissions must be received no later than midnight on 28 April 2024.
Any person who wishes to speak to the Council in support of their submission will be given the opportunity to address the Council at a hearing during the period 9-10 May 2024.
Submissions can be made:
Submissions must be received no later than Sunday 28 April 2024.
Other things Council is consulting on
At the same time as this consultation, Council is consulting on the Long Term Plan 2024-2034 Consultation Document. The decisions made on fees and charges, following this consultation, will have an impact on budgets and on projected income in the supporting financial information included in the Long Term Plan 2024-2034 Consultation Document.
