Reduced fees for food stallholders in Vincent

THE City of Vincent has removed fees for established food businesses that go mobile and reduced its permit fees for food stallholders by two-thirds, but they are still higher than some other local councils.

Councillors last week agreed to reduce the fee from $390 to $130 after they were approached by the Kyilla P&C, which said the fees were not in line with other local governments, discouraging businesses from participating in local food markets such as the Kyilla Community Farmers Market.

Registered fixed premises, such as Stomp Coffee in North Perth, will no longer need a permit to attend events as a stallholder.

Broque Monsieur owner Brock Deighton runs his toasted sandwich stall at several Perth markets, including the Kyilla Community Farmers Market operated by the Kyilla P&C.

Mr Deighton said Vincent’s previous annual permit fee was “astronomical” and “at least double” the fee charged by other councils, such as Swan.

He also pays market fees of about $70 to the Kyilla Community Farmers Market.

Mr Deighton said mobile food vendors often had more costs than other businesses.

“If you break it down it becomes a lot more expensive… adding up on market fees per hour, per day, per square metre,” he said.

Mr Deighton said mobile vendors were also expected to organise and pay for their own water and power supply and remove their own rubbish.

Konway Challis has recently begun operating his stall Red Gill Fish at the Kyilla Market and although he is yet to be charged fees by the City, he said other local council fees had been reasonable.

In the City of Stirling he pays no permit fees and a $60 vendor fee towards the market itself.

Mr Challis said vendors should be charged one vendor fee to cover them trading in all local government areas. Vincent Mayor Emma Cole said the changes would make it simpler and more attractive for vendors to attend the City’s markets.

“A feature of community events is often mobile food vendors and we want to make it easier for people to support one of our local businesses,” she said.

“This will cover all of our bricks and mortar food businesses – cafes, restaurants, food retailers and bars serving food.

“These businesses pay an annual fee to be assessed by the City for their premises already, so we are already able to assess food safety and standards this way.

“We hope that removing the event fee will encourage our local businesses to go mobile and represent at our local events.

“This can help us activate our public spaces and also bring in new customers to some of our beloved local eateries.”