Newcastle lord mayoral candidate Ross Kerridge has committed to removing the council's outdoor dining furniture fees if elected in September.
The Independent candidate has outlined his 'Our Newcastle' team's election platform for small businesses.
Dr Kerridge said he would remove the fee that the council has imposed on restaurants and cafes across the city for leaving furniture outside in public areas and on footpaths overnight.
Newcastle council adopted a new annual fee in 2023 for businesses wishing to keep tables and chairs outside permanently, ranging between $4000 and $7000 depending on the size of the area.
"Small hospitality businesses should not be stung with ridiculous outdoor dining charges up to $7000," Dr Kerridge said.
"Given the state of the economy, we should be making it easier for Newcastle based cafés and restaurants to operate thereby increasing patronage and allowing a thriving economy in our city."
"I've spoken to a few businesses in ward four who have had difficulty negotiating with council over outdoor dining and the setup of their outdoor tables," ward four candidate Tahlia Kelso said.
"We need to make it simpler so that small business owners and managers can focus on running their business.
Multiple hospitality businesses have publicly slammed the fees as "money-grabbing". Labor and Greens councillors who voted for the policy said the fee would strike a balance between supporting outdoor dining and safe use of public spaces.
The policy made Newcastle the first council in NSW to provide an option for outdoor furniture to be kept permanently in public areas.
Dr Kerridge has also pledged to create a council events procurement strategy to use local businesses for the supply of services or goods for events where possible.
"Supplying services from outside the LGA should be the last possible option only if no other supplier from Newcastle can supply," a statement from the Our Newcastle candidates said.
The mayoral candidate also wants the council to work more productively with Business Improvement Associations on how their fees are spent locally to improve their area.
