Tauranga City councillors have pulled back from having another go at re-working the council's mobile shops policy, less than a year after it was last altered.
TCC's City Vision Committee made the decision to leave the policy for now, with councillors voting against a recommendation to revisit the policy, instead putting it off until next year.
The current policy was approved in September 2013, making last summer a test case for new rules governing where, when and for how long mobile traders can do business.
The 2013 mobile shops review was in response to issues raised about mobile shops operating on Mount Maunganui's Marine Parade.
TCC staff recommended another review after issues about the 2013 policy were identified by staff, shop operators, reserve users and other parties.
Corporate planner Jane Barnett says a review of the mobile shops policy also needs to take a look at the council's Temporary Commercial Activities on reserves policy.
Mobile shops are in both bylaws and there is some confusion.
The bylaw adopted by the city council last September focuses on rules for the high profile, peak summer Marine Parade area, the tendering process required for high profile sites, and haw many carparks were to be made available.
Other aspects of the bylaw, including localities and trading times, have since been challenged as unworkable and or unenforceable.
The unpopular 2013 policy was followed up with a proposal in TCC's 2014/2015 annual plan discussions to raise the 100 mobile shop licence fees from $226 to $750.
It was eventually settled at $545, which is about the amount of the annual $54,500 administration cost divided up among the traders.
This week's debate wasn't about whether to review the policy, but when.
The issue is councillors' workload. They are embarking on the 16-month Ten Year Plan process.
TCC councillor Clayton Mitchell says they don't have the time to properly revisit the mobile shops policy this year.
If they want to fix it before next summer they basically have to do it now, if it's to be finished in time.
Councillors voted to leave the policy for another summer and try and work through issues as they arise. It will be re-examined next year.
4 comments
Load of bull
Posted on 20-07-2014 09:00 | By Murray.Guy
TCC councillor Clayton Mitchell says they don't have the time to properly revisit the mobile shops policy this year.... what a load of bull! If staff say they have time, then elected members have time! Try being a Councillor and cancel your double dipping. The policy might need tweeting, NOT a full blown review, besides which Councillors part in the process is little more than a 'secret workshop or two' these days, and a couple a meetings. The meeting schedule is hardly dawn to dusk and Cr. Clayton Mitchell might have to put aside some of his campaigning!
Wasting more time
Posted on 20-07-2014 12:47 | By KateC
Surely working through the issues as they occur will take up more time as it will be a haphazard method requiring continual briefing and re-briefing, visiting and re-visiting. There is an issue here. The council recognise it as do the councillors. Fix it before it becomes a major problem. It is attitudes like this that have left us with scenarios like the flooding, the roading, and the Greerton Library.
Agree with Murray
Posted on 20-07-2014 12:57 | By dgk
If Clayton doesn't have enough time to earn his ratepayer funded salary, then he needs to either make time, or stand aside for someone who has better time management skills.
We Deserve Better
Posted on 20-07-2014 15:29 | By Disappointed
The current regulations for mobile traders, specifically as it relates to Main Beach, are a dogs breakfast. The hodge podge of caravans are unsightly and a stain on an otherwise outstanding beach scene. Also at issue are the numerous car parks reserved all day for traders when parking is in such high demand. Residents and visitors deserve much better and council simply ignoring this mess (of their own making!) for another summer is unacceptable.
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