Issue - meetings

RESOLVED – that (A) the comments of the Joint Scrutiny Committees of 15 January 2013, be received; and

(B)   the increases in fees and charges as detailed in Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ of the report submitted, be approved.

The Executive Member for Finance submitted a report setting out proposed fees and charges for 2013/14.  The joint meeting of Scrutiny Committees, at their meeting held on 15 January 2013, had supported the proposals now detailed.  The Executive Member advised Members that parking charges would be the subject of a separate report at the next Executive meeting.

Councillor N Symonds referred to the proposed 3% increase in bed and breakfast charges and the hardship this would cause to clients.  The Executive Member undertook to discuss this further with Officers, and if necessary, revise the proposal at the next Council meeting.

The Executive commended the proposals as now detailed.

RECOMMENDED – that (A) the comments of the Joint Scrutiny Committees of 15 January 2013, be received; and

(B)   the increases in fees and charges as detailed in Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ of the report submitted, be approved.

The Executive Member for Finance submitted a report detailing the additional income to the Council that could be generated by increasing discretionary fees and charges in 2013/14 for a variety of services.  Members were referred to Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ for the detailed suggested increased to discretionary fees and charges.

In response to a query from Councillor G McAndrew relating to the 2013/14 estimate of £467,600 in respect of commercial waste, the Chief Executive and Director of Customer and Community Services confirmed that the cost of this operation would increase yearly as this cost included landfill charges, which were due to increase yearly by a significant amount.

Councillor T Page commented on the policy basis for the significant increases to Planning and Building Control fees detailed in paragraph 2.5 of the report now submitted.

The Director confirmed that the increases were not a policy decision but were an Officer recommendation.  Members were advised that building control fees were subject to external competition and Officers preferred not to significantly increase these fees as the Authority may not secure as much work.

The joint meeting of Scrutiny Committees resolved to inform the Executive that the fees and charges should be approved as detailed in the report now submitted.

RESOLVED – that the Executive be informed that the joint meeting of Scrutiny Committees considered that the 2013/14 fees and charges, as detailed in Essential Reference Paper ‘B’ of the report now submitted, should be approved.