Fee cut will make a difference
New Plymouth business owners say the district council’s proposed fee cuts would be a welcome relief in this time of crisis.
Today New Plymouth District Council (NPDC) will come together for an extraordinary meeting to discuss rates and relief packages.
This includes looking into financial relief for hospitality, hairdressers and property developers, in light of the impacts felt during the Covid-19 crisis.
NPDC is proposing this year’s annual licence renewal fee to be reduced from $155 to $1 for businesses operating under the Food Act 2014, such as restaurants, cafes and bars, and also businesses operating under the Health Act 1956, such as hairdressers.
Council estimates $72,861 will be lost through the fee reduction in food licence renewals, and $32,874 in the loss of health licence renewals. NPDC also intends to waive encroachment fees for on-street dining and other council-owned land to encourage the use of public spaces.
For Restaurant owner Mark Louis the waiver of any fees would be appreciated, as the last few weeks ‘‘hasn’t been the best’’. ‘‘Every little bit helps, right?’’ Louis has been doing deliveries himself for The Hour Glass, and a drop-off and pick-up service through Delivereasy for Polpetta. He said the support so far had been amazing.
He planned to reopen bar and restaurant Our Place/El Fuego in level two with gathering restrictions in place.
Hair salon owner Sue Garrett said the last few weeks had been tough, with payments coming out, and no income coming in. ‘‘Any help we can get we would be grateful for,’’ Garrett, who owns Ruby Blu, said. ‘‘It would be wonderful for us.’’
While Garrett looks forward to opening her salon doors at level two, she’s been grateful for the wage subsidy and her landlord making ‘‘negotiations’’. ‘‘We’re really lucky, really.’’ NPDC has also proposed to reduce or waive fees and charges for resource consent processes for a period of 12 months.
It would be good news for Property developer Kevin Doody, who owns K D Holdings Ltd, who said business had been on hold for six weeks.
Doody said he’d be moving back to a type of normal in level two.