Council split over charging local bars and cafes £460 to put seats outside their premises

Derry's council has been criticised for approving a new bill which will see local bars and cafes charged £460 for what was described as ‘putting a few seats’ outside their premises.

The move comes after new legislation came into effect in October of last year, under which the owners of cafés, restaurants, pubs may apply to their local council for a Pavement Café Licence.

The licence allows the placing of tables and chairs on a public area for use by customers.

In February of this year, Derry City and Strabane District Council approved a proposed fee of £460 for the granting of a three year licence, and £300 for a renewal.

A charge of £300 was also agree for the variation of a licence, with the fees calculated to cover the costs of administering the licensing scheme.

The proposal was then issued to 451 businesses in the local council district which council identified as ‘being potentially affected by the new legislation’, who were offered the chance to make representations on the issue.

However, it’s now emerged that out of the 451 businesses contacted, only two replies were received.

Of those two replies, one was from was a business, while the other response was received from a member of the public.

In addition to fees for Pavement Café Licences, planning permission may be required for some pavement cafés, in which case fees associated with making a planning application would also apply.

Councils also have discretion to charge a reduced fee, or waive all charges completely.

The matter came before Thursday afternoon’s meeting of the council’s Health and Community committee, where approval was sought to implement the new charges.

Seamus Donaghy, Head of Health and Community Well-Being, told the meeting that the £460 bill for the three year licence was the equivalent to a payment of £2 a week for businesses.

Speaking at the meeting, the independent councillor Patsy Kelly said he had been contacted by businesses who felt the charge was ‘another bill on their doorstep’.

He added that he ‘felt the same way’, continuing that local businesses ‘already pay huge rates’ and were now being asked to pay more money for ‘putting a few seats outside their premises’.

“It’s a bill too far,” Cllr Kelly continued, before adding that the move was ‘unfair’.

Sinn Fein’s Eric McGinley proposed that council endorse the proposals made at the last meeting.

However, the UUP’s Derek Hussey raised his own concerns, questioning why a business owner who could only put a ‘table and two chairs’ outside should have to pay the same fee as another business who can ‘have 20 tables depending on the space’.

His concerns were echoed by the independent councillor Paul Gallagher, who said that businesses should only the pay the weekly £2 fee only when they place tables and chairs outside, as it may be for ‘only one month a year’ due to the weather.

The SDLP’s Gus Hastings said he felt the new fees were ‘reasonable’.

“I can’t see anyone going broke if we charge them £2 a week,” he added.

He then continued: “It’s a disgrace, we should be charging them more,” which drew heckling from across the chamber.

Cllr Hastings party colleague, Martin Reilly, said that while only responses were received, local businesses had been given the opportunity to respond to the proposals.

Responding, Cllr Gallagher said that a ‘lot of businesses refused to respond because they thought this was a fait accompli’.

The new fees will now be introduced after being approved by a majority vote at Thursday’s meeting, which was held in the Guildhall.