Food vans wanting to operate in the Meander Valley region could soon be required to pay a fee.
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At Tuesday’s council meeting, it is recommended the council approve a new food van policy.
The policy was first touted in April 2017 when councillor Bob Richardson moved a motion to get the council to develop a policy in relation to vendors using council streets and land.
Councillor Tanya King was the only representative to vote against the motion, because she believed small businesses already have enough policies, procedures and legislation to comply with.
In August 2017, the council agreed to prepare a policy to grant permits and address the sale of goods from council-owned or managed properties.
If the council vote to approve the policy on Tuesday, food van vendors will be required to pay an annual fee of $163.50 to trade in the area.
The council’s environmental health officer Katie Proctor said the growth of food van popularity had increased in the area during the past year.
“Difficult situations have arisen for council staff in the absence of a policy when handling such queries, together with the conflicting expectations of proprietors of established permanent fixed food businesses and the broader community,” Ms Proctor said in the council agenda.
“The implementation of the proposed policy will provide direction and clarity on the requirements for all parties, and facilitate a consistent approach for the assessment of applications for a permit to trade from a public street or council owned or managed property.”
Cr Richardson said he was “generally” happy with the proposed policy.
“I think it’s heading in the right direction and we need to formalise things. Apart from a few minor things, the policy is pretty good,” Cr Richardson said.
In December, the Northern Midlands Council also created food van legislation for its region. The council chose to set the annual permit fee to $300, and to set a six month or one-off permit at $150.