Agenda item

Wellbeing Fees and Charges

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Ashworth)

 

Report of the Head of Community Engagement (to follow)

Minutes:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Ashworth)

 

Cabinet received a report from the Head of Community Engagement which had been prepared as part of the 2011/12 estimate procedure and set out options for increasing the level of fees and charges at Salt Ayre Sports Centre, Community Pools and Platform.

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

 

 

Option 1

To approve the increase in fees as recommended in the report

Option 2

To approve a different percentage increase.

Option 3

To do nothing and retain the existing fees and charges.

Advantages

This option makes a small additional contribution to the 2011/12 budget process, whilst retaining fees at competitive levels.

 

This therefore takes into account inflation and the implications of the increase in VAT.

This option potentially allows for a greater increase in revenue if an increase of greater than the recommended percentage is approved, therefore making a greater contribution to the 2011/12 budget process.

This option would mean no price increases for customers.

 

This could have a positive effect on income generation should the trend for throughput increase significantly as a result of no increases.

Disadvantages

Any increase in fees is likely to be unpopular with customers.

An increase in fees above the recommended amount is likely to meet with customer resistance.

 

This could result in reduction in income generation and as such customer dissatisfaction that may be difficult to respond to.

 

 

No opportunity to raise additional revenue through fees and charges in areas that may stand an increase.

 

This option will not meet the current budget requirements, requiring additional income or savings to be generated from other activities / services undertaken by the council.

 

Risks

There is always a risk that customers will choose not to access services with any increase in charges.

 

 

There is always a risk that customers will choose not to access services if fees are too high or move to one of the key competitors in the district.

 

There is a risk that even current income levels will fail to be achieved if fees are perceived to be too high.

 

This option increases the difficulties of securing a viable budget at a time when additional income and savings are required.

 

There is no increase in throughput and the Council suffers loss of income.

 

 

 

The officer preferred option was Option 1.  This option allowed for increased revenue whilst retaining fees at affordable and competitive levels. The flexibility for the Head of Community Engagement to set maximum prices in line with particular promotions for activities would help to respond to changes in market demand throughout the year and this was noted on the Appendix to the report.  For future years, it was anticipated that there would be changes to introduce a clearer policy for the setting of fees and charges generally, supported by updates to the Scheme of Delegation.  This was currently being developed for consideration by Members in due course and would be considered as part of a review of the Scheme of Delegation.

 

Councillor Ashworth proposed, seconded by Councillor Kerr:-

 

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

 

By way of amendment, Councillor Whitelegg proposed and Councillor Barry seconded:-

 

“That all charges (i.e. excluding inflation and VAT increases) that relate to physical activity be set at 0%.  This would apply to all charges for: swimming (including lessons and pool hire), badminton, table tennis, fitness classes, athletics, football pitches, cycle track and skills, bowls, tennis, multi use games area (MUGA) and football club charges.”

 

Councillors then voted on the amendment:-

 

2 Members voted in favour of the amendment (Councillors Barry and Whitelegg) and 6 Members against (Councillors Ashworth, Blamire, Bryning, Kerr, Langhorn and Robinson) whereupon the Chairman declared the amendment to be lost.

 

By way of a further amendment Councillor Robinson proposed and Councillor Barry seconded:

 

“That the following revisions be made to the proposals set out in the report:

  • The adult 6 month swimming pass for the three community pools at Heysham, Carnforth and Hornby be set at £140 and consistent with that at Salt Ayre as opposed to £150;
  • That the Senior 60 6 month swimming pass be set at £105 as opposed to £110;
  • That the Family Swim be set at £8.50 as opposed to £9;
  • That the private hire of Salt Ayre main pool be set at £45 as opposed to £50;
  • That officers monitor the hiring of the Platform to ascertain whether the increase in hire charges has a negative affect on bookings.”

 

Councillors then voted on the further amendment.

 

3 Members voted in favour of the amendment (Councillors Barry, Robinson and Whitelegg) and 5 Members against (Councillors Ashworth, Blamire, Bryning, Kerr, and Langhorn) whereupon the Chairman declared the amendment to be lost.

 

Councillors then voted on the original proposition.

 

Resolved:

 

(5 Members (Councillors Ashworth, Blamire, Bryning, Kerr, and Langhorn) voted in favour and 3 Members (Councillors Barry, Robinson and Whitelegg) abstained.)

 

 

(1)               That the charges for Salt Ayre Sports Centre, Community Pools, Williamson Park, Parks and Recreation Grounds and the Platform are increased in line with the proposed percentages (rounded to nearest £0.10) as set out in Appendix 1 with effect from 1st March 2011, generating additional income of £14,400 over and above the minimum budgetary requirement to cover inflation and VAT increases.

(2)        That the Overview & Scrutiny Chairman be consulted with a view to waiving call in, in accordance with Overview & Scrutiny Procedure Rule 17, to enable the decision to be implemented immediately.

 

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Head of Community Engagement

 

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

The decision will maintain income whilst retaining fees at affordable and competitive levels.

 

Supporting documents: