Issue - meetings

Report attached.

Councillor Steven Smithson, Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services, provided a report seeking approval for a proposed increase in allotment rent charges from the 1^st January 2024.

Councillor Smithson outlined the main elements of the report.  It was proposed that the allotment rent charge be increased from 24p/m² per annum to 25p/m² per annum (4.2% increase) from 1^st January 2024.  In order to make the change 12 months’ notice needed to be given.  The increase would maintain the service on a cost neutral basis to the Council.  The increases were considered to be reasonable when compared to neighbouring authorities, such as Blackburn with Darwen and Burney Councils.  The Leader also highlighted some issues including the tenants’ preference for small regular increases, historically low rents, recent site improvements and the lack of objections from the Hyndburn Federation of Allotments.

Councillor June Harrison asked if there was a waiting list for tenancies.  Councillor Smithson believed this to be the case, but the matter would be clarified as information was due to be reported soon to Overview and Scrutiny.  A written response would be provided to Councillor Harrison.  Councillor Kate Walsh, Joint Deputy Leader of the Labour group, asked how long the waiting list was and whether new allotments could be created via the Local Plan process, to avoid over-development of urban areas and to improve the green environment.  The Leader responded that there were already designated sites for allotments, which included some private sites near the Dunkenhalgh Hotel and some sites transferred to Altham Parish Council.  However, to increase this number would require additional land to be purchased by the Council and require changes within the Local Plan which could not easily be implemented until the next plan in 2037.

Approval of the report was deemed a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

It was recommended that from 1^st January 2024 the allotment rent charge be increased from 24.0p/m² annum to 25.0p/m² annum (4.2% increase). 

The allotment rent increment 2025 onwards would be considered in subsequent Cabinet reports during 2024, at a time when the increased inflationary pressures on the Council’s service costs were known.

During 2012 the Council had consulted with the allotment tenants.  83% of those responding had said that rent should be increased regularly in small amounts rather than a single large increase at irregular intervals. 

Since 2014 the Council had progressively increased the allotment rents in small annual increments to ensure that the annual rate of increase was kept reasonable.  A list of annual rents charged per m² and the minimum charge regardless of plot size, for the period 2014 to 2024 was set out in the report,

Prior to 2014, the allotment rents had not been increased since 2006 and were amongst the lowest in England (data supplied by the National Allotment Society).  Between 2006 and 2014 the annual allotment rents were charged at an average of 7.5p/m²

The Council had a legal duty to notify tenants 12 months in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 150