Agenda item

TO FOLLOW

The AD Finance apologised for the late dispatch of the report. The AD Finance introduced the report which sought approval for the annual review of the level of Fees and Charges levied upon service users and the accompanying increases entailed. The AD Finance advised that the fee’s and charges contained in the report were separate to the fees and charges approved at February Cabinet in a separate report. The Committee was informed that by law, a number of fees and charges could  not be approved by Cabinet hence this report.

The Committee noted that the approach in the report was consistent with the Cabinet report in that where there was discretion, an inflationary rate of 1% was proposed. There were a couple of exceptions to this approach such as street trading fees, as set out in paragraph 6.6 of the report.

Cllr Bevan commented that he had written to the Cabinet Member and reiterated his view that the fees and charges should be rounded up or down to the nearest pound or 50 pence, but was told that the fees and charges had already been set. Officers responded that these fees and charges were an entirely separate list of fees and charges from those agreed by Cabinet. Officers also advised that some work had been done to try and achieve a relatively round figure, however there was a balance between doing so and being mindful of the need to justify any increases that were significantly above inflation.

Cllr Bevan asked for clarification on whether this report covered swimming charges and was advised by officers that they were contained in the earlier Cabinet report.

Cllr Carroll enquired whether the authority was charging the maximum allowable amount for gambling fees. Officers responded that they were 5% below the maximum level but the report proposed increasing these by 1 %.

Cllr Bevan proposed moving that the gambling fees be moved to the maximum amount allowable. Officers advised that the Committee could do so but warned that any increases would leave the Council more open to challenge by the betting industry  and potentially generate greater scrutiny from the betting industry of what the money from the annual fees was spent on. The Committee agreed that any further increase in gambling fees should be done with caution and properly evidenced.

Assistant Head Litigation & Corporate advised that in terms of timescales, any increase would need to be agreed through the annual budget process, however the ground work could be done beforehand. The AD Finance stated that he was not aware of any reason why a change in the fee level could not come back mid year, subject to the appropriate consultation and equalities assessments being carried out.

Officers agreed to look into increasing gambling fees to their maximum amount and bringing an update back to a future meeting of the Committee.

Action: Daliah Barrett

RESOLVED

To approve the increases to the Council’s licensing fees and charges, as set out in Appendix A of the report, with effect from 1^st April 2016.