2021-08-10 Services & Organisation Committee Meeting Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                  10 AUGUST 2021


2     2021-22 FEES AND CHARGES AMENDMENTS

Author            Manager Financial Services, Trent Grauf
                  Corporate Services Department

Index             ECM/ Subject/ 2021 - 2022 Budget

Attachments       1.    Summary of Proposed Changes to 2021-22 Fees and Charges


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The 2021-22 schedule of fees and charges was adopted at Ordinary Meeting on 17 June 2021.
Following adoption, a number of minor revisions have been proposed. Under the Local
Government Act 2009, the Schedule of Fees and Charges can be revised during the financial year
to amend, remove or introduce fees or charges.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Manager Financial Services to the Services & Organisation
Committee Meeting dated 10 August 2021 and pursuant to sections 97, 98 and 262(3)(c) of the
Local Government Act 2009, amend the proposed fees and charges provided in Attachment 1 to
the report for subsequent revision in the published 2021-22 schedule of fees and charges.


REPORT
Section 97 of the Local Government Act 2009 requires that cost-recovery fees are to be set at a
level equal to or less than cost of providing a particular service. As part of the 2021-22 budget
development, fees and charges were reviewed to ensure that where possible prices were set for
anticipated volumes at cost reflective levels in line with legislation. Increases identified at levels
above inflation were subsequently presented to Councillors through budget workshops for
discussion and agreement.

Charges which are commercial in nature are set in accordance with Section 262(3)(c) of the Local
Government Act 2009. Commercial charges are applicable to both of Council’s nominated
business activities, Waste Management and the Holiday Parks. Full cost price modelling was
undertaken for both of these activities to ensure that charges reflected full cost and a user pays
philosophy, and no general rate subsidy is required.

Following adoption of the 2021-22 fees and charges in June 2021, a number of amendments have
been identified for consideration. These relate to:

   Refinements to fee descriptions and supporting commentary;
   Rounding and other changes to fee value;
   Deletion of duplicate fees; and
   Addition of fees omitted from the adopted 2021-22 schedule of fees and charges, but were
    previously considered as part of the budget process.

A full list of the proposed 22 changes is provided in Attachment 1.

In addition to the above changes, it is also noted that the current Schedule of Fees and Charges
includes a category for fees applicable under the superseded planning scheme. These fees are
only applicable for a period of 12 months following adoption of the Noosa Plan 2020 on 31 July
2020 and as a result are now to be withdrawn.


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