Bid To Block Allotment Charge Increase Fails
Council proceeds with decision to raise fees on Christmas Eve
Park Road allotments in Isleworth. Picture: Facebook
A bid by a local councillor to postpone the decision to increase rental charges for allotment holders has failed.
Cllr John Todd asked for delay to allow for more time for the consideration of the report in which the rise of 69% in the annual charge and greater restrictions on the number of over 65s who qualify for a discretionary rate were recommended.
He was told by the borough Chief Executive Niall Bolger that, as the decision was not consider to be a ‘key’ one, it was not eligible to be called in for review by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
As a result Councillor Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Leisure Services accepted the recommendation of the report on Christmas Eve with the new arrangements due to come into effect on 13 January. Allotment holders do have a 12 month notice period before fees can be increased above the rate of inflation. They will be informed of the rise when they are sent their next invoice.
There will be an increase of 69% from £71 per annum to £120 plus many over 65s will no longer qualify for a concessionary rate as this will now be means tested. An out of borough allotment holder fee of £250pa is to be introduced.
Under the new proposals the separate water fee will be abolished and the new annual rate will be £120 or £90 for sites with no water provision such as Saxon Avenue and Manor Garden.
The borough has 29 allotments managed by Lampton Greenspace 360 Ltd with around 2000 plots and considerable waiting lists. Interest in allotments has grown since the Covid-19 outbreak with residents looking to increase the amount of time they spend outdoors.
The report which recommended the increased rates states that the overall vision for allotments is to “maximise their value for health and well-being, stronger communities, biodiversity and sustainable living”.
The report says that a benchmarking exercise was carried out to evaluate fees and charges in other London boroughs and that currently Hounslow was the 9th cheapest out of 21 with an annual charge of £71 and below the average of £120. Boroughs with cheaper rates often do not provide water or toilet facilities to their sites.
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January 1, 2021