2019-02-12 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                            12 FEBRUARY 2019


The use of a Special Charge to recover the costs of inspections under a Systematic Inspection
Program appears to be the only realistic option. The Special Charge would be imposed on each
industrial property which is part of the inspection program. The Special Charge would be
imposed on the property owner, not the occupier.
If Council agrees to recover costs under a Special Charge, Council will need to:
    Undertake appropriate communication regarding the charge for property owners and
      occupiers.
    Formalise its inspection and compliance program including the right to enter and inspect
      premises.
    Formalise the costs to be recovered, number of inspections to be undertaken and Special
      Charge reporting processes.
    Ensure that the impost on business and industry is minimised to the extent possible.
    Consider the net resourcing cost, given that the level of cost recovery does not equate to a
      FTE position.
The review of Special Charges shows that charging for other types of inspection programs is
possible e.g. food premises. Council would need to consider whether this would result in
additional or duplicated compliance requirements on business and industry and any net benefits
of applying such a regime, after consideration of costs and benefits.
The AEC report recommended that further consideration of any extension of special charges to
other areas be deferred to allow time for Council to review the outcomes from the industrial
premises inspection regime.
Proposed charge
Industry numbers (estimate based on the inspection program)               118
Suggested cost recovery fee in 1920/21                                    $285
Revenue                                                                   $33,360
Resourcing
It is anticipated that the additional workload could be managed through the use of the existing
part time Environmental Health position currently used for project work, and assisting with
Environmental Health workload generally.
7. Working with Industry
The initial inspection program following the stormwater investigation found a 50% non-
compliance rate.
Given the high non-compliance rate, a subsequent reinspection of those non-compliant
businesses was carried out in November 2018. Thirty percent (30%) of these premises were still
non-compliant, so further inspections will occur until they are compliant with the environmental
legislation.
Prior to this most recent inspection program, all business owners and landlords were provided
with written advice as to what was intended and the reasons. Council also pre-empted a long
term intention to put in place an annual inspection program, including an annual fee to recover
Council’s costs. This advice included Council’s consideration of a Special charge.
Previous Council Consideration
A report was presented to Council to the Services and Organisation Committee dated 11 July
2017 and the adopted resolution dated 20 July 2017 was further discussed at a Council
workshop in February 2018.




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