HAWKESBURY Council would risk not meeting its Fit For the Future requirements if it waived room hire fees for community groups according to a Council report.
Liberal councillor Patrick Conolly asked for a report to be made, looking into the financial cost waiving fees for community groups would have on Council’s bottom line.
The result, at least according to Council staff, is that it would have ‘substantial financial implications for Council’, as was noted in the Council business paper for the November 14 meeting.
The report warned that by 2021, Council would not be able to meet its Fit For the Future requirements, if the fees were waived.
Council staff told the November 14 meeting that room hire fees were common across most LGAs, and most groups simply accepted it was par for the course.
The report said a potential $5000 grants program could help with covering costs of room hire as an alternative.
