Issue - meetings

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Finance.

1.    To note the current levels of budgeted fees and charges and the issues specific to these;

2.    To approve an increase in the charge for garden waste, from £30 to £32.50;

3.    To approve a general increase of 4.9% in the fees for 2022/23; given that the rate of CPI is currently running at 5.1%, and RPI at 7.1%, the recommended uplift is less than inflation and is limited to the services listed in Table 3 of Appendix 1.

4.    To approve the full list of fees and charges for upload onto the Council website.

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member (Resources), presented the report of the Director of Finance which sets out the current position around fees and charges and proposals for 2022/23.

Members noted the appendix which details the key fees and charges budgets across a number of different categories. Although not exhaustive, the list gives an indication of the core fees involved.

Members supported the increase to the garden waste collection charge recognising that this was designed to cover an increase in costs and not for profit. Members discussed a commitment to not seek to make significant profit from this service going forward but understood that some degree of flexibility was required to cover any potential additional costs throughout the year. It was agreed that a breakdown of costs to deliver the garden waste collection service could be provided, as requested.

Decision:

1.    To note the current levels of budgeted fees and charges and the issues specific to these;

2.    To approve an increase in the charge for garden waste, from £30 to £32.50;

3.    To approve a general increase of 4.9% in the fees for 2022/23; given that the rate of CPI is currently running at 5.1%, and RPI at 7.1%, the recommended uplift is less than inflation and is limited to the services listed in Table 3 of Appendix 1.

4.    To approve the full list of fees and charges for upload onto the Council website.

Reasons for recommendations:

To ensure that fees and charges are set at appropriate levels and are publicly available.

Other options considered and rejected:

None.