Agenda item

The Committee heard for the final time from the Business Support Team Leader regarding the proposed fees and charges for 2022/2023, including those recommended by the Prosperous Communities Committee on 2 November 2021. Members heard that, in addition to the content of the report, the appendices provided service specific detail around performance, future demand and the rationale behind the proposed fee for next year. It was explained that consideration had been given to total cost recovery, benchmarking data, and team manager knowledge of the market when proposing fees, in line with the fees, charges and concessions policy. Additionally, during this years’ budget consultation exercise, nearly two thirds of respondents felt that fees should only be increased by inflation this year, and then reviewed again next year. In the majority of cases, this was the increase that had been applied. The percentage would appear higher than inflation in the schedules where the fee had been rounded up to the nearest pound or 50p. Inflation had been applied as at June’s RPI rate of 3.9% for 2022/23, then 2% thereafter. Where no increase had been proposed, or an increase above inflation, the reasoning for this was contained within the report. In the majority of cases, the non-statutory fees had 2% inflation already built into the MTFP from 2022/23, therefore the impact of an inflationary increase was minimal.

It was explained that the budget implications included in the report for information, reflected both the impact of proposed amendments to fees, and the forecast demand over the period of the MTFP. The net impact of the fees and charges review across both committees was an increase in income of £20,700 in 22/23, rising to £154,800 in 26/27. The significant increase in the third year related to forecast crematorium capacity and demand, and the increase in the fifth year related to forecast demand for planning fee applications.

Of the 59% of fees which were non-statutory, those with significant budget implications were:

·                     Lea Fields Crematorium – an increase for cremation services of 2.5% rather than inflation, to ensure the Council remained competitive with other cremation providers.

·                     Car parking fees – no amendment was proposed at this time,  pending the strategy due later in the civic year

·                     Building control – it was proposed to keep the hourly rate at the same level as currently charged, as this brought the Council in line with other local authorities

·                     Land charges – inflation had been applied at 3.9%

·                     Planning pre-application advice – inflation had been applied at 3.9%

Members were asked to consider the proposed fees and charges, and to make recommendation to Council for approval.

On opening discussions, a Member of the Committee noted that an inflationary increase was a positive option and consequently moved the recommendations as written.

A Member of Committee indicated that he wished to discuss the contents of the appendix regarding CCTV services, As this was a restricted document, it was proposed and seconded that the meeting move into closed session. On taking the vote it was

RESOLVED that under Section 100 (A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Note:              The meeting moved into closed session at 8.40pm at which time a short adjournment was called. The meeting reconvened at 8.44pm

The Committee discussed the details contained within the appendix relating to CCTV services and it was confirmed that the pandemic restrictions had impacted on the work of the service, with Officer deployed elsewhere. Members were satisfied with the service review plans as detailed by the Chief Executive and suggested options to be explored regarding the provision of CCTV services in the district.

Note:              The meeting returned to open session at 8.50pm

The paper, having been moved, was subsequently seconded and on taking the vote it was

RESOLVED that Members recommend to Full Council the proposed Fees and Charges at Appendices 1 – 3, as well as those recommended by Prosperous Communities Committee detailed at Appendices 4 – 18, for approval.