Agenda item

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 uplift in the Strawberry Fields service charge of £1 per square foot to better reflect the current costs incurred at the site, as detailed at point 29.

3.    To approve an uplift in the rents of all Council owned housing (including Extra Care but excluding Cotswold House) of 7.7%. This is the approach agreed by Executive Cabinet in July 2022 of increasing these rents by CPI plus 1%, were CPI is based on the rate applicable at September each year. As service charges and utility charges are still broadly in line with the actual costs incurred, there is no proposal to increase these; these were reviewed last year.

4.    To approve an increase in rent at Cotswold House of 3.07%, plus an increase in service charge of 7.52%, but with a reduction in the personal charge of 13.47% as detailed in point 28.

5.    To approve an increase in the core charges for the Lancastrian by 6.7% as per point 33.

6.    To approve the changes to the structure of community centre hire charges as per point 32 and Appendix 4. Report of Meeting Date Director (Finance) (Introduced by Executive Member (Resources)) Executive Cabinet 18th January 2024 Agenda Page 23 Agenda Item 5

7.    To approve an increase of £12.80 per annum for the allotment plots that have water access and a 6.7% increase for the plots with no water access as per point 30.

8.    To approve the changes to the structure of Other Licensing Fees, Housing and Pest Control as per point 34 and Appendix 3.

9.    To approve a general increase of up to 6.7% in the fees for 2024/25, limited to the services listed in Table 3 of Appendix 1. Given that the rate of CPI in September was running at 6.7%, and RPI at 8.9%, the recommended uplift is in line with CPI.

10.To note that fees and charges in respect of Astley Hall will be reviewed during the year as part of the commercial strategy review.

11.To approve a change to the split of cost in relation to Council Tax and Business Rates Court Summons and Liability Orders as per point 35. The overall cost will remain the same.

12.To approve the full list of fees and charges for upload onto the Council website. Recommendations to Council

13.To recommend to Council an increase in garden waste collection charges of £5.00 as per point 31.

Peter Wilson, Executive Member for Resources presented the report of the Director of Finance which set out the current position around fees and charges and the proposals for 2024/25. If agreed, the increases would be implemented from 1 April 2024, or the most suitable date following.

Members agreed that the 10p a week increase for garden waste collection was reasonable. Questions were raised around the occupation of Tatton Gardens, and it was explained that there was a leak prior to Christmas that delayed some occupants from moving in, it was also stated that new units were made available following the previous occupants death, and was not always a straight forward procedure, there was however a substantial list of applicants seeking accommodation at Tatton Gardens.

Decision:

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

2.    To approve an uplift in the Strawberry Fields service charge of £1 per square foot to better reflect the current costs incurred at the site, as detailed at point 29.

3.    To approve an uplift in the rents of all Council owned housing (including Extra Care but excluding Cotswold House) of 7.7%. This is the approach agreed by Executive Cabinet in July 2022 of increasing these rents by CPI plus 1%, were CPI is based on the rate applicable at September each year. As service charges and utility charges are still broadly in line with the actual costs incurred, there is no proposal to increase these; these were reviewed last year.

4.    To approve an increase in rent at Cotswold House of 3.07%, plus an increase in service charge of 7.52%, but with a reduction in the personal charge of 13.47% as detailed in point 28.

5.    To approve an increase in the core charges for the Lancastrian by 6.7% as per point 33.

6.    To approve the changes to the structure of community centre hire charges as per point 32 and Appendix 4. Report of Meeting Date Director (Finance) (Introduced by Executive Member (Resources)) Executive Cabinet 18th January 2024 Agenda Page 23 Agenda Item 5

7.    To approve an increase of £12.80 per annum for the allotment plots that have water access and a 6.7% increase for the plots with no water access as per point 30.

8.    To approve the changes to the structure of Other Licensing Fees, Housing and Pest Control as per point 34 and Appendix 3.

9.    To approve a general increase of up to 6.7% in the fees for 2024/25, limited to the services listed in Table 3 of Appendix 1. Given that the rate of CPI in September was running at 6.7%, and RPI at 8.9%, the recommended uplift is in line with CPI.

10.To note that fees and charges in respect of Astley Hall will be reviewed during the year as part of the commercial strategy review.

11.To approve a change to the split of cost in relation to Council Tax and Business Rates Court Summons and Liability Orders as per point 35. The overall cost will remain the same.

12.To approve the full list of fees and charges for upload onto the Council website. Recommendations to Council

13.To recommend to Council an increase in garden waste collection charges of £5.00 as per point 31.

Reasons for recommendations:

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

Other options considered and rejected.

No other options considered as we are required to review fees and charges each year.