Purpose

The
Allotment plot rental fee was last set in 2014 and took effect in
2015. Although inflation costs have increased over the last nine
years, the rent that allotment plot holders pay to the Council has
not changed over that period. It is proposed that annual rents are
increased proportional to nine years inflation (33.47%), resulting
in rents being raised from £104 and £52 to
£138.81 and £69.40 for full and half plots
respectively. It is considered a fee for what a tenant may
reasonably be expected to pay for the land for use as an allotment.
It is proposed that the Council continues to provide a 50% discount
for people over the age of 60. 
 
This
report requests approval to undertake public consultation on the
proposed rental charge increase.

Decision

1.   
That the commencement of a public consultation
regarding the proposed allotment plot rental charge increase, be
approved.
 
2.   
That once the consultation period has closed
Officers will review responses and make recommendations to the
Executive Member for Communities and Safety asking for approval to
make any change to the rental charge.
 
3.   
That the decision be classified as urgent for
reasons set out in the report and the call-in period be
waived.

Reasons for the decision

The proposed
Allotment rental charge increase protects the delivery of the
service, enabling the Council to continue to provide quality
allotment sites for people to grow their own food. This proposal
would enable the Council to maintain staffing levels and continue
with maintenance of the allotment sites (repairs to infrastructure
etc.).
 
Approval to publicly consult on the
proposed changes to allotment rental charges will allow this
proposal to be considered as part of the Council Budget 2025/26,
noting that the earliest any change to the current rental charge
would take effect would be from 1st April 2026.

Alternative options considered

The
rental charge review considered a number of rental charge options. The rental charge
proposal proposed for consultation in this report has been
determined as the most equitable.
 
If
approval to consult is not given, then the proposed allotment
rental charge increase cannot be enacted.  Failure to increase the allotment rental charge to
what a tenant may reasonably be expected to pay for the land for
use as an allotment will risk the provision of quality allotment
sites for people to grow their own food, impact on staffing levels
and the continued maintenance of the allotment sites (repairs to
infrastructure etc.).