Agenda item

Committee gave consideration to a report outlining proposed Fees and Charges to take effect from 1 April 2024. The Committee was advised that some of the appendices were exempt as they were commercially sensitive and it would be necessary for the press and public to be excluded if discussion on those items was needed.

The Financial Services Manager introduced the report and advised that the report detailed proposed fees and charges to be implemented from the 1st of April 2024 for services within the remit of the Committee. The appendices provided service specific detail around performance and demand, and consideration had been given to total cost recovery, benchmarking data and team manager knowledge of the market when proposing the fees.

The budget implications reflected both the impact of proposed amendments to fees and the forecast demand, and although the Retails Price Index (RPI) in September stood at 8.9%, it was proposed to apply 6% where fees were to be increased by inflation. This represented the expected average pay award increase for 2023/24 with staff costs being the main cost driver for fees and charges. Inflation had been added to the majority of non-statutory fees. However, there were some non-statutory fees which had been increased above inflation, to reflect cost recovery calculations and benchmarking data. Where no increases were proposed this was to ensure that the Council maintained or increased market share whilst remaining comparable to benchmarking data.

The criteria for setting statutory and non-statutory fees were outlined and it was advised that the impact of the proposed fees meant an increase in income for the medium term financial plan of £8,700 pounds in 2024/25, rising to £145,300 pounds in 2028/29. It was noted that amendments to statutory planning application fees had been approved by the government, but confirmation of the implementation date was awaited. Updates would be reported to the Committee.

A Councillor thanked Officers for the report and proposed that amendments should be made to the fees and charges so that car parking fees be frozen for 2024/2025 and request that a value for money review of the car parking enforcement contract be undertaken and report back to Prosperous Communities Committee by 31st May 2024.

In respect of the proposed charging for markets, amendments were proposed that if a trader attended for 12 continuous weeks, then the fees would be discounted by 50% for the period after the twelth week.

It was further proposed that in respect of young market traders aged 16 to 25, the discount should be the same as the new traders and set at 50% after 12 weeks.

Finally it was proposed that the largest stall discount for market organisers, bringing more than 25 stalls to the Gainsborough Market on a Tuesday or Saturday a new fee of £7.50 is introduced

The proposed amendments were duly seconded and on being put to the vote were carried.

The revised recommendations were then proposed and seconded and on being put to the vote it was  

RESOLVED that

a)    the proposed fees and charges for 2024/2025 as detailed in the report be recommended to Corporate Policy and Resources Committee for approval subject to the following amendments in respect of markets:

·         New traders to get a 50% discount when trading for 12 continuous weeks – discount for the full period;

·         Young market traders age range to 16 – 25 to get 50% discount under same terms as new traders;

·         A larger stall discount for market organisers bringing more than 25 stalls to Gainsborough market on either a Tuesday or Saturday with a new fee of £7.50 being introduced where a trader utilised more than 25 stalls. This to be in line with the new trader cost.

b)    Officers carry out a value for money review of the existing car park enforcement contract and report the findings to the Prosperous Communities Committee by 31 May 2024.