Agenda item

*RESOLVED –

1.   That the fees and charges policy as set out in Appendix A of the report be approved.

2.   That the proposed fees and charges as set out in Appendix B of the report be approved for introduction from 1 April 2024.

3.   That it be noted that the fees and charges for Open Markets, Car Parking, Venues, Leisure, and Outdoor Grass Football Pitches will be subject to separate reports.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

To  comply with the Council’s Budget Strategy for recovering fees and charges to contribute to the costs of service delivery.

The Head of Accountancy and Finance presented a report seeking approval for a new policy to direct the setting of fees and charges and for the implementation of a range of specified fees and charges changes for the financial year 2024/25. The latter had been developed in alignment with the Council’s overall budget strategy and were aimed at supporting the Council to achieve a balanced budget for the financial year 2024/25.

It was reported that the current economic climate and the prevailing high rates of inflation meant that the costs of delivering services were increasing, making it more important than ever that all services were delivered as efficiently and effectively as possible, embedding commercial operating principles to how budgets were set and managed. This included the need to ensure that fees and charges were regularly reviewed to ensure that wherever possible the costs of service delivery were recovered, and that there was no cross subsidy from other service areas.

A key part of the fees and charges review for the financial year 2024/25 was the development of a new policy, attached at Appendix A of the officer’s report, which set out the Council’s approach to charging across the full breadth of services currently delivered. The estimated impact of the fees and charges changes proposed for specific services would be incorporated within the General Revenue Fund Medium-Term Financial Plan report to Council in February 2024.

It was recognised that there were a range of different factors to consider in setting fees and charges, including legislative requirements and constraints, the costs of delivering services, benchmarking the Council’s levels with those of other Councils, and potential impacts on other Council policies and objectives.

The proposed fees and charges for specified Council services for the financial year 2024/25 were set out in Appendix B of the officer’s report.

It was noted that Appendix B excluded fees and charges proposals for the financial year 2024/25 in relation to Open Markets, Car Parking, Venues, Leisure, and Outdoor Pitches. The fees and charges proposals for these service areas would be subject to separate reports to Cabinet in January and February 2024.

*RESOLVED –

1.   That the fees and charges policy as set out in Appendix A of the report be approved.

2.   That the proposed fees and charges as set out in Appendix B of the report be approved for introduction from 1 April 2024.

3.   That it be noted that the fees and charges for Open Markets, Car Parking, Venues, Leisure, and Outdoor Grass Football Pitches will be subject to separate reports.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

To  comply with the Council’s Budget Strategy for recovering fees and charges to contribute to the costs of service delivery.