INSPECTION FEES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 42, 12 November 1937, Page 7

INSPECTION FEES

Borough To Increase Charges In Future The question of the amount of the fees to be charged for inspection of plumbing, drainage, water and sewev work in connection with the Government houses at present being built in 1 Hastings has been the subject of diseussiou between the Hastings Borough Council and the Housing Department. The outcome is that the department is to be charged the present rates, but owmg to increased costs the rates for future inspections have been increased. The town clerk, Mr Noel C. Harding, reported that he had been interviewed by the Housing Department Juspector, who, while agreeing that the charge of £1 1/- for the inspection of plumbing and drainage work was reasoiiablo but in view of the fact that the water and sewer connections could be arrauged on a pian to save labour, because of the concentrated area, the aepartment would like the council to give consideration to some reduction in the fees. The ^borough engineer Mr E. E. Evans, rejvorted that the rates at preseDt charged were barely enough to cover actual cost, and that there was no margin to provide for unforeseen dif iicuLties. The increased cost of labour and materials had added considerably to the cost of water and sewer connections siuce the fees had been iixed by tDo council. The works committee, after consideration cf the whole matter, recoraraended that the water connection inspection charge be increased from £2 10/- a house to £2 15/-, and also that the sewer connection inspection charge be increased from £5 to £5 10/- a house. The committee also rocomntonded that tho Housing Department bo advised of the increases; but in view of the fact that certain savings could bo eil'ected in carrying out a number of connections iu a concentrated area, the Rouncil was prepared to make no increase in water and sewer connection fees for Government houses erected on biocks owned by the Housing Department.