Decision details

Allotment Rent Increase for 2020/2021 and Changes to Discount Structure for Allotment Rents

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Purpose:

An inflation level increase in allotment rents for 2020-2021, and some changes to concession criteria as of April 2019

 

Decision:

That:-

 

(a) the rent for allotments in 2020/21 is increased in line with inflation, i.e. 2.6%; and

 

(b) the amendments to the allotment discount structure, described in the report, are agreed and the revised discount structure set out in paragraph 1.3.4 is approved with effect from 1st April 2019.

 

Reasons for the decision:

The recommendation regarding the rents effectively enables us to maintain the status quo.

 

The recommendations regarding the discounts will enable more people who need the discount to claim it, but reduce the number of discounts awarded to people who are able to pay the rent.

 

Alternative options considered:

Rents could be left at the same level. However, due to inflation, this would effectively be akin to a reduction in budget. This was rejected because the current allotment budget is not felt to be larger than needed. A reduction would decrease the level of service and site improvements.

 

Rents could be increased by a larger amount, or pricing could be changed in some way other than a small percentage increase across the board. However, based on the results of the consultation questionnaire in January 2018 and previous discussions at Allotment Advisory Group, an increase in line with inflation has emerged as the overall preferred option, otherwise it would deter people from renting allotments.

 

Discounts could be left the same. However, this would be detrimental to those in receipt of Carer’s Allowance. Not changing the criteria for claiming the Senior Citizen discount would mean we would continue to award a discount to some people who do not need a discount to be able to pay. Not changing the student discounts would mean we would continue to use criteria which are cumbersome and unfair to some.

 

Other changes could be made to the discounts. However, no suitable alternative changes have been identified at present, and the changes proposed are in line with recent confirmation by the tenant questionnaires.

 

Publication date: 22/01/2019

Date of decision: 22/01/2019

Effective from: 29/01/2019

Accompanying Documents: