Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Core Services introduced a report on the proposed fees and charges for Council services, the majority of which would come into effect from 1 January 2021.

The Cabinet Member referred to the Council’s Charging Policy which underpinned the review of fees and charges and explained that the default position, which had been applied to the majority of services, was an inflationary increase of 1.6% in line with the July 2020 Retail Price Index.

In response to the report the Cabinet Members for Public Realm and Enforcement and Community Safety drew attention to a number of specified fees as follows:

·  Due to increasing development across the Borough and a growing demand for refuse collections, a small charge had been introduced for additional collections;

·  Given the level of take up for the green waste collection service the existing charge of £40 annum would be capped for 2021;

·  In recognition of their vital work during the pandemic, key NHS workers would continue to receive free parking permits up to 31 January 2021;

·  Charges for care workers to park in all CPZ’s had been set at £100 per annum, the cost of which was refundable through HRMC;

·  Barking Market pitch fees had been frozen.

The Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety also provided information as to how the Council used the income generated through the parking service which included the upgrading of uniforms, radio equipment and body worn cameras for parking attendants. 

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 2021 unless otherwise stated,

(ii)  Note the fees and charges no longer applicable from 1 January 2021, as set out in Appendix B to the report; and

(iii)  Delegate authority to the Director of People and Resilience, 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.