Agenda item

Corporate Fees and Charges

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hamilton-Cox)

 

Report of Chief Officer Resources  (report published on 15 January 2024)

Minutes:

Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hamilton-Cox)

 

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer Resources which sought Cabinet’s endorsement of the Fees and Charges Policy for 2024/25 and consideration of a range of charging options as deemed appropriate to the service area.

 

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

 

 

Option 1: To support the inflationary increases/freezes as outlined in the report.

Option 2: To not support the inflationary increases as outlined in the report.

Advantages

Fees and charges contribute further to the general fund net position.

 

Costs of delivering Council services have increased as has demand in some areas. Not increasing costs means that further pressure is created on the Council’s ability to deliver its core services.

Maintains the cost of services at 23/24 levels or at less than proposed in this report.

Disadvantages

The draft revenue budget has been prepared with the inclusion of the items raised in this report. Any further proposals would require further consideration prior to being fed into the budget process.

Costs of delivering Council services have increased as has demand in some areas. Not increasing costs means that further pressure is created on the Council’s ability to deliver its core services.

Risks

Increasing fees to higher than suggested levels would most likely result in further resistance and potentially not achieve the targets originally set.

Cost of living increases and the return from the pandemic have reshaped people’s habits. The income targets already set may not achieve projected levels in 23/24, resulting in a shortfall within the accounts

 

 

The officer preferred option is Option 1. Fees and Charges are reviewed on an annual basis and as outlined within the report, significant factors have become apparent as to why differing treatment is required within a couple of areas. It is felt that the recommendations made are of a fair nature and in-line with the attached policy.

 

Councillor Hamilton-Cox proposed, seconded by Councillor Wood:-

 

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

 

Councillors then voted:-

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)        That Cabinet endorses the Fees and Charges Policy as set out at Appendix A to the report, and during 2024/25 as part of the mid-year budget strategy review determines whether any other areas of income generation be explored further for 2025/26 onwards.

 

(2)        That Cabinet endorses the increasing of selected car parking pay and display charges in line with those listed in Appendix C to  the report.

 

(3)        That Cabinet endorses the increase of garden waste collection charges by £4 to £45 per annum.

 

(4)        That Cabinet endorses the application of inflationary increases to fees and charges across all remaining areas as appropriate, as reported as part of the current 2024/25 budget setting process.

 

(5)        That Cabinet endorses the annual review of Mellishaw Park pitch fees in line with CPI, as prescribed by the Mobile Homes (Pitch Fees) Act 2023.

 

 (6)      That Jubilee Court rents be set in accordance with the Policy Statement on Rents for Social Housing, as applied to HRA housing stock.

 

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Chief Officer Resources

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

Fees and charges form an integral part of the budget setting process, which in turn relates to the Council’s priorities. Under the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), income generation is a specific initiative for helping to balance the budget.  The proposed increases are considered to be fair and reasonable.

 

 

Supporting documents: