Beach hut fees set to soar

Fees would rocket from 100 a year to 150 if Rother cabinet accepts recommendations by director of services Tony Leonard.

But Mr Leonard say that cemetery fees - already among the highest in the county - and car parking charges be pegged although there should be a rise in parking season tickets.

The annual review of charges will be one of the tasks before the cabinet when it meets in public session at the Town Hall on Monday afternoon.

Recommendations are prepared each year using information gained from previous years, local demand and the need to set realistic charges for the council's services, the need to maintain the real value of income and from recommendations from overview and scrutiny committees and, this year, the cabinet and budget board.

Rother needs to cut 550,000 off spending or raise more income to balance its forthcoming budget. But Mr Leonard warns: "When increasing fees/charges cabinet must be aware of possible implications on user resistance declining use, and the level at which fees and charges were increased in 2004/05."

He is urging increases which would put 1 on the present 37 Polegrove pitch fee for football and 3 on the present 35 for cricket. Charges for youth and under-12 pitches should be pegged, he says. The District Sports Strategy emphasises encouraging greater participation by young people in sport.

Rother increases allotment fees every other year and for 2005-2006 these should remain unchanged, he recommends.

"It is recommended that fees for beach cabins increase above the rate of inflation with the exception of deck chairs, which are to be held at 2003 prices, as uptake on beach cabins has increased during 2004 and demand can now withstand a realistic increase in charges.

"Following cabinet's consideration of the charging regime on its car parks, it is proposed that those charges be incorporated alongside an increase in season ticket charges. It is evident from available data that season ticket sales are rising at the expense of day tickets.

"Following a recent meeting with Hastings Borough Council it is clear that our permits are under-priced.

"It is therefore proposed that these charges be increased along with the standard penalty charge previously approved by cabinet.

"Other charges have not been increased as it is believed the increase in 2004/05 has taken charges to a point where customers' resistance may have a negative impact on income."

Rother has had a policy for five years of increasing cemetery charges by 28% per year. "This has resulted in Rother District Council costs becoming among the most expensive in Sussex.

This period of accelerated charges has now come to an end and it is proposed that no increase in charges be approved other than inflation."