Agenda item

The Committee heard from the Financial Services Manager who presented a report detailing the proposed fees and charges to be implemented from 1 April 2026, for services within this committee, as well as those recommended by the Prosperous Communities Committee. The budget implications reflected both the impact of proposed amendments to fees, and the forecast demand for each service.

It was explained that 41% of the charge lines were statutory and were published once released by the relevant body. The release of the statutory planning fees was awaited, and it was noted this had occurred in November the previous year. Therefore, they were based on the September CPI rate which was confirmed earlier this month as being unchanged from August at 3.8%.

The remaining 59% of charge lines were non-statutory and were locally set by the Council. For each service provided, total cost recovery was aimed for where possible, however benchmarking data was taken into consideration, as was the budget managers’ knowledge of the market and demand. Members were advised that the main cost driver for the majority of chargeable services was staff time, therefore the pay award increase of 3.2% was applied as he inflationary uplift for 2026/27 with a further 2.5% increase applied as an estimate each year from 2027/28 onwards.

In relation to non-statutory fees, 39% had seen no proposed change, it was highlighted this primarily related to markets and car parks. With regard to car parks, a revised car park strategy was imminent so no amendments to fees were proposed at this time. With regard to markets, trader numbers were being maintained and so it was not proposed to apply any increases at this stage. It was highlighted there was a proposed fee reduction for Tuesday fees for vans and trailers to encourage more traders of this type. There was no stall erection required for these traders therefore it was deemed appropriate to reduce the fees to be more in line with market stalls.

Members were advised that in relation to the garden waste charge, the Prosperous Communities Committee had considered three options for the 2026/27 subscription fee and recommended the fee of £48, which was a £2 or 4.3% increase on the current year, and represented cost recovery for the service.

It was also highlighted that 60% of non-statutory fees were proposed to increase, the majority of which were based on an increase of 3.2% rounded to the nearest £ or 50p. The total impact of the fees and charges review on the MTFP for 2026/27 was an increase in income of £81,500, rising to £126,400 in 2030/31. Members were asked to recommend the proposed fees to Council for approval, and for inclusion within the 2026/2027 revenue budget.

Additionally, Members were being asked to consider the request for one day’s free car parking to support Christmas events in Gainsborough and Market Rasen. It was explained that in 2022, Members had approved a day’s free car parking for three years from 2023 to 2025, with the actual dates each year being signed off by Delegation to the Chief Executive. The delegation had now expired, therefore Members were asked to approve free parking for 2025 and the dates provided, and also for the following three years, again delegating authority to the Chief Executive to sign off the date each year.

Members of the Committee expressed their support for the approach taken, and were content budgets were managed efficiently. The wait for the settlement figures from Government was acknowledged, and the hope expressed that it would be issued in a timely manner.

A Member of the Committee noted the difficulty with interpreting the detailed level of information provided, and in knowing whether there could be some manoeuvrability or not. The colour coding of the statutory versus non-statutory fees was welcomed, however it was enquired as to whether Member consideration of the proposals could occur earlier in the process.

With regard to costs around the Trinity Arts Centre, it was requested that the impact on the local community was taken into consideration when setting the fees and charges. The example was provided of community groups in other areas having to re-locate or cease operating as they had been unable to afford the steadily increasing costs of, such as, venue hire. It was noted that many groups who used the Trinity Arts Centre were small, local groups, who would not be able to absorb frequent price increases. It was acknowledged that those concerns were taken into account when reviewing the proposed fees and charges.

During the course of debate, Members indicated a wish to discuss the contents of the exempt appendices. The Chairman sought agreement that there were no further comments relating to the public paper, and, having been moved, seconded and voted upon 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 entered into closed session at 7.42pm

Members of the Committee raised specific questions regarding the fees relating to Building Control and Commercial Waste Services. With additional information required from the service managers in order to proceed, it was suggested by the Monitoring Officer that those two fees could be removed and returned to the Committee at the next meeting, once the additional information had been made available.

In response to further concerns raised regarding Member involvement in the fees and charges review process, the Chief Executive, in acknowledging the robustness of the process, noted that Members could choose to include an additional recommendation regarding a review of the process and presentation of the proposed fees and charges paper, to enhance Member involvement and understanding.

Note:              The meeting returned to open session at 8.06pm

The Chairman thanked all Members for their comments, and, based on previous discussions, a Member of the Committee proposed that the proposed fees and charges in relation to Building Control and Commercial / Trade Waste services be deferred for the next meeting of the Committee. It was also proposed that a recommendation be added to address the concerns raised regarding Member involvement in the fees and charges process.

With these two amendments proposed, seconded, and clear support indicated by the Committee, the recommendations, as amended, were duly proposed, seconded and voted upon. It was therefore

            RESOLVED that

a)    Members recommend to Council for approval and inclusion within the 2025/2026 Revenue Budget the proposed Fees and Charges at Appendix A, as well as those recommended by Prosperous Communities Committee detailed at Appendices B and C* (*commercially sensitive), with the exception of Building Control and Commercial / Trade Waste services; and

b)    the recommendation from the Prosperous Communities Committee be accepted and free car parking be approved for Friday 14 November 2025 (Gainsborough) and Saturday 6 December 2025 (Market Rasen) when Winter Events were to be held (Section 5.2); and

c)    the recommendation from the Prosperous Communities Committee be accepted and the request for one day of free parking be approved in Gainsborough and Market Rasen when Winter Events are to be held, for the years 2026, 2027 and 2028, and Delegated Authority be granted to the Chief Executive to determine and vary the date on which free parking is held each year up until 2028, in consultation with Event Organisers and the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee (Section 5.2); and

d)    Officers be tasked to progress work to review the presentation of the fees and charges and to include Member Development options to ease the budget setting process.