Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Growth and Investment introduced a report on the proposed fees and charges for Council services, the majority of which would come into effect from 1 January 2018.

It was noted that all fees and charges had been assessed against the Council’s Charging Policy framework and, in most cases, would only be subject to an increase in line with the Retail Price Index (at August 2017).  The Cabinet Member also explained that charges in respect of leisure services and planning and capital delivery services would no longer be set by the Cabinet as those services were now outside the Council’s direct control, although steps had been taken to ensure that they remained affordable and appropriate.

In respect of parking charges, it was noted that resident parking permit charges would remain at 2017 levels pending a wider review that would seek to encourage the use of electric and other low emission cars whilst discouraging higher emission and diesel vehicles.  Other on and off-street parking charges would be increased by an average of 50% to reflect market rates, although the impact would be closely monitored.  In response to concerns expressed regarding the parking of commercial vehicles on the Borough’s residential roads outside of the current restrictions, it was confirmed that officers were looking at a range of options to address the problems caused.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree the proposed fees and charges as set out in Appendix A to the report, to be effective from 1 January 2018 unless otherwise stated;

(ii)  Note the fees and charges no longer applicable from 1 January 2018, as set out in Appendix B to the report; and

(iii)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director for Service Development and Improvement, in consultation with the Chief Operating Officer and the relevant Cabinet Members, to set fees and charges to be applied from September for schools and academic year based activities.