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Agenda item

Fees and Charges for 2023/24

This report seeks approval for proposed fees and charges for 2023/24 in respect of Community and Environmental Services, Corporate and Customer Services and Regulatory Services.

Minutes:

The Director of Resources introduced a report seeking approval for the proposed fees and charges for 2023/24 in respect of Community and Environmental Services, Corporate and Customer Services and Regulatory Services.

 

The Committee was asked to consider an annual review of the fees and charges for services provided across the Council.

 

It was noted that in recent year’s fees and charges had been increased, in general, by an amount that slightly exceeded inflation rates at the time. Charging above the current rate of inflation would generate higher levels of income in real terms (assuming no significant customer resistance) and would assist in balancing the budget for 2023/24 given the significant inflationary increases on Council spending.

 

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 11.1% in October 2022 and had fallen to 10.5% in December 2022, the last figures available at the time of writing the report. The Director of Resources informed members that the figures for January were now available and that there had been a reduction to 10.1%, still much higher than expected for this time of year. The usual practice was to inflate fees and charges for the coming year by slightly more than the current CPI. However, increases of this magnitude might not be acceptable to the public at these times of a cost of living crisis and might result in customer resistance. Therefore, service managers had used their knowledge of their service and customers to set the proposed fees and charges.

 

Appendices 1-13 of the report contained schedules of the existing and recommended charges.

 

It was moved by Councillor Susan Hobson, Seconded by Councillor Helen Froggatt and

 

RESOLVED (unanimously)

 

1.    That the fees and charges recommended in Appendices 1 – 13 of the report be approved and implemented with effect from 1 April 2023, or as soon as is practical thereafter.

 

2.    That subject to the approval of the Clean and Green Review report, due to be presented to Council in March, any required amendments to the fees and charges be considered by the relevant policy Committee.

 

The Chairman declared the motion CARRIED.

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