What do you think about Council raising its variable income (such as user charges, parking fines and fees) to fund existing or existing and enhanced services?

Across these 'variable' income areas the notion of user pays should be adopted and charges increased.

An idea to help the Waverley area pay for services is to add a local Waverley bed tax to hotels, motels and packpacker hostels. Most tourists come to Bondi to use the beach but don't pay anything towards it. Adding a few dollars tax per person per night would be a simple way of collecting extra money and would pay for cleaning of their litter and cigarette butts and could go towards upgrading footpaths which they also use!

Waverley Council could make more money from parking fines in residential areas if parking officers actively patrolled local streets for vehicles parked illegally. For example, issue parking fines for: cars illegally parked across people's driveways or illegally obstructing people's driveways, or for cars illegally parking too close to the corner of intersections. Also, the parking rangers need to be contactable after 9 pm, as they currently switch off their mobile phones after 9 pm.

A review of variable income must be part of the solution. The magnitude of the forecast shortfall is such that any solution must be comprehensive. It’s puzzling why Council has taken the approach they have with such an emphasis on Services Plus and such a focus on rate rises. A more balanced approach would have far greater credibility. It’s even more puzzling why Mayor Sally Betts should criticise councillors who appear to have suggested a more comprehensive balanced approach. Surely every little bit will help.

Market economy fundamentals suggest that where demand is high then there is opportunity for suppliers to more…

Establish very heavy fines for people who dump their rubbish on the pavement.

In the short term, it should bring substantial revenue to the council.

In the long term, it should change the current attitudes and stop our pavements being used as rubbish dumps; that would presumably reduce council clean-up costs. At the moment, rubbish dumped on the pavement is almost accepted by residents as what happens in Bondi. In particular, 'short-term residents' who have just arrived see it everywhere and assume it is how things work here. By creating a few example with very heavy fines, the word may start going round that it is not the thing to do. Although it may take a while, I believe this would help change attitudes.

The 2 free annual household rubbish pick-ups by the council are a great initiative, but it looks like few people use it.

If they aren't already, real estate agencies should be promoting this service to tenants, and emphasising that dumping on the street can be a costly exercise.

Yes, the Council should apply their increases in the "user pays" system, that is a very fair way to go about business....... that is how it is done in the rest of society these days

Absolutely not Council should not be relying on revenue from these sources in the first place let alone increasing them

increase parking fines, especially for people who park illegally near schools or too close to corners. this is unsafe and endangers pedestrians. fines are a good way to change this behavior and raise revenue. increase parking charges and provide more bike parking.

“What do you think about Council raising its variable income (such as user charges, parking fines and fees) to fund existing or existing and enhanced services?”

The existing services provided by Council that are essential should be funded through rates and appropriate user charges such as the waste levy. These rates and charges should only increase in proportion to the increase in normal continuing business operating costs. Generally, these increases should be within the annual rate increase cap imposed by the State Government. Specifically, the following services are essential and should be funded through rates or appropriate charges:

• Beach and pool more…

No. Not to say that, eg, parking shouldn't be more aggressively policed but this is not an alternative to more realistic rates.

“What do you think about Council raising its variable income (such as user charges, parking fines and fees) to fund existing or existing and enhanced services?”

Before raising any user charges these non essential services should be cut;

• Services for the aged, youth, Indigenous groups, multicultural groups and the disabled

• Child care and family support services

• Arts, cultural and volunteering programs

• Social and affordable housing services

• Management of major places, malls and villages

• Environmental management

• Emergency management services

• Events and festivals management

• Recreation and active living

• Traffic and transport management