Agenda item

[ Report of the Interim Deputy Chief Finance  Officer. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Health.]The Council's income policy requires that a review of fees and charges is undertaken annually. This report seeks approval for fees and charges schedule for 2018/19 financial year.

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 2018/19. 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 Cabinet Member further advised that there would be a more comprehensive review of fees and charges carried out next year.

In response to Cllr Carter’s question on the increase in the concessionary rate charges for pest control, the Cabinet Member outlined that if this was not an inflationary level increase, then increases in rates tended to be put forward further to considering statistical neighbouring borough charges or the London average. The Cabinet Member offered to facilitate the provision of information to Cllr Carter on the rationale and context behind the increase in these charges.

RESOLVED

1. To agree the proposed fees and charges to be levied by the Council with effect from 1 April 2018, unless otherwise stated, and as detailed in Section 8 and related appendices taking into account the findings of equalities assessments as set out in section 8 of the report and available in full at Appendix A;
2. To note the proposed changes in fees and charges arising from previous Cabinet or Cabinet Member decisions as set out in Section 9 and related appendices
3. To note that the Council’s MTFS assumes that the changes to Fees & Charges 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.