Agenda item

Corporate Fees and Charges Review 2026/27

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hamilton-Cox)

 

Report of Chief Officer Resources (report published on 8.1.26)

Minutes:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hamilton-Cox)

 

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer Resources that asked Members to endorse the Fees and Charges Policy for 2026/27 and also to consider 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/changes as outlined in the report.

Option 2: To not support the inflationary increases/changes 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 25/26 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 26/27, 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 Bottoms proposed, seconded by Councillor Tyldesley:-

 

“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 2026/27 as part of the mid-year budget strategy review determines whether any other areas of income generation be explored further for 2026/27 onwards.

 

(2)        That Cabinet endorses the freezing of garden waste collection charges for 2026/27.

 

(3)        That Cabinet endorses the introduction of new fees and charges within Planning & Climate Change as detailed in section 3.2 of the report.

 

(4)        That Cabinet proposes the increasing of selected car parking pay and display charges plus establishment of new charges as appropriate, in line with those listed in section 3.3 to the report, to be consulted upon with partners ahead of final decisions at Cabinet on 10th February 2026.

 

(5)        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 2026/27 budget setting process.

 

 

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Chief Officer Resources

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

The report forms part of the Council’s budget proposals which will be consulted on as part of that exercise and specific elements of the report will also be shared with organisations that have a particular interest. 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.

Supporting documents: