However the council had only budgeted for $65,000 for the 2017/18 financial year, $10,000 more than required in the Memorandum of Understanding which has been in place since 2007.

According to a letter from chief executive Peter West to the council in May, with CPI and wages increases over the past decade, an extra $34,600 was required in addition to the regular $55,000.

“We acknowledge that the monies collected and retained by RSPCA Tasmania as a result of impound fees and daily maintenance fees has been indexed annually recognising in part the incremental increase in costs to continue providing this service,” he said.

“We consider the that the actual cost to RSPCA Tasmania of running this service is far greater than the financial contribution received.”

Mr West said the income from impound and daily maintenance fees was $13,160.

The council was due to vote on the matter in July, but deferred a decision to gather more information and have further discussions.

“Further liaison was undertaken with the RSPCA including presenting them with an alternative option of an annual contribution of $80,000 payable monthly in arrears, with the impoundment fees and charges to be retained by City of Launceston,” the council’s environmental services manager Debbie Fortuin said.

“The RSPCA has declined this option and opted for the original recommendation of $65,000 per annum payable monthly in arrears, with the RSPCA to retain the impoundment fees and charges.”

In August Mr West told The Examiner of his push for an RSPCA vet clinic in Northern Tasmania to improve the organisation’s income generation and financial stability.