Agenda item

[Report of the Chief Operating Officer. To be introduced by the Cabinet  Member for Finance and Health. The Council’s income policy  requires an annual review of the level of the fees and charges  levied on service users . This report considers the relevant factors  affecting the review of fees and charges , identifies those services  where an increase  is being proposed and seeks approval to increase the fee or charge rate to those services where an increase is proposed  in line with inflations. Members agreement will be sought where an alternative approach is proposed.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Health introduced the report which set out the fees and charges that were proposed to be applied to services for the year 2017/18. This report considered the relevant factors affecting the review of fees and charges identified those services where an increase was being proposed and sought approval to increase the fee or charge rate to those services where an increase is proposed in line with inflation. The report sought Member’s agreement where an alternative approach is being proposed.

Further to considering the report and appendices as well as Equalities Impact Assessments, Cabinet -

RESOLVED

1. To agree the proposed fees and charges to be levied by the Council with effect from 1 April 2017 (unless otherwise stated) including new fees and charges for street naming and numbering, some services within Registrars and Waste and Parks Services as detailed in the appendices;
2. To agree the revised fees and charges for Adults’ Services as set out in Appendix I with effect from 1 April 2017;
3. To agree the revised fees and charges for Traffic Management Services as set out in Appendix II with effect from 1 April 2017;
4. To agree the fees and charges for Libraries Services as set out in Appendix IIIa with effect from 1 April 2017;
5. To agree the revised fees and charges for Cultural Services as set out in Appendix IIIb with effect from 1 April 2017;
6. To agree the revised fees and charges for Garage Rents as set out in Appendix IV with effect from 1 April 2017;
7. To agree the revised fees and charges for Asset Management Services as set out in Appendix V with effect from 1 April 2017;
8. To agree the revised fees and charges for Court Summons as set out in Appendix VI with effect from 1 April 2017;
9. To agree the revised fees and charges for Adult Learning (HALS) as set out in Appendix VII with effect from 1 April 2017;
10. To agree the revised fees and charges for Waste Collection Services (Neighbourhood Action) as set out in Appendix VIII with effect from 1 April 2017;
11. To agree the revised fees and charges for Parks Services as set out in Appendix IXa with effect from 1 April 2017;
12. To agree the revised fees and charges for Parks Events Services as set out in Appendix IXb with effect from 1 April 2017;
13. To agree the revised fees and charges for Registrars as set out in Appendix X with effect from 1 April 2017;
14. To agree the revised fees and charges for Regulatory Services (excluding Licenses) as set out in Appendix XI with effect from 1 April 2017;
15. To agree the revised fees and charges for Building Control Services as set out in Appendix XII with effect from 1 April 2017;
16. To agree the fees and charges for Children’s Services as set out in Appendix XIII with effect from 1 April 2017;
17. To note where specific changes in fees and charges form part of savings proposals in the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) report elsewhere on this agenda;
18. To note the findings of equalities assessments as set out in section 8 of the report and available in full at Appendix A;
19. To note that no increases are being recommended for 2017/18 at this stage for Library services or Children’s Centres as separate reviews are underway in these service areas; and
20. To note that the Council’s MTFS assumes that the increases set out in this report are agreed.

Reasons for Decision

It is a requirement to review fees and charges annually. The financial position of the Council supports the view that levels of fees and charges should be maximised taking into account all relevant factors including the effect on service users and any consequent demand for services.

Alternative options considered

This report summarises the conclusions after consideration of a range of alternative approaches dependent on particular services and relevant factors. As such a range of alternative options ranging from no increase to differentiated rates of increases have been considered and reflected in this report.