DECISION

1.    Approve the proposed changes to discretionary fees and charges as detailed in the appendices, subject to the conditions set out in Recommendation 4 of the report.

2.    Approve new discretionary fees and charges as detailed in the appendices, subject to the conditions set out in Recommendation 4 of the report.

3.    Approve the revised statutory fees and charges as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report.

4.    Note the Equalities Implications as set out in Section 4 and that, where a proposed fee or charge requires a full Equality Impact Analysis (EIA), this EIA will be undertaken prior to the introduction of the change to the respective fee or charge.

5.    Approve the continued delegation for amendments to fees and charges, including those to take account of the result of EIAs, to the relevant Corporate Director following consultation with the Lead Member and the Mayor.

6.    Approve the application of the changes in Street Trading fees and charges, to take effect from 1 April 2023.  Cabinet approved on 18 January 2022 to commence the consultation process in respect of Street Trading fees and charges, as detailed in the Fees and Charges 2022-23 report.  The consultation has subsequently been carried out in 2022.

Action by:

INTERIM CORPORATE DIRECTOR, RESOURCES (K. BARTLE)

(Director of Finance, Procurement and Audit (N. Visram)

Councillor Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cost of Living introduced the report that detailed proposed changes to fees and charges across the Council for the financial year 2023-24. Councillor Ahmed described the differences between statutory and discretionary charges and the approach taken to reviewing each type. He explained that in determining changes to fees and charges, benchmarking exercises with other local authorities had been conducted and the impact of general economic factors including Covid and the cost of living crisis had been taken into account.

He also highlighted that:

·         the report introduced free parking concessions for one hour at specific locations around markets within the borough; and

·         street trading charges would not be increased any further for next year.

Finally, Councillor Ahmed explained the interrelationship between this report and the MTFS and Budget report previously considered.

Cabinet members indicated their support of the proposed changes to fees and charges.

The Mayor welcomed the report and agreed the recommendations as set out in the report.

RESOLVED to:

1.    Approve the proposed changes to discretionary fees and charges as detailed in the appendices, subject to the conditions set out in Recommendation 4 of the report.

2.    Approve new discretionary fees and charges as detailed in the appendices, subject to the conditions set out in Recommendation 4 of the report.

3.    Approve the revised statutory fees and charges as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report.

4.    Note the Equalities Implications as set out in Section 4 of the report and that, where a proposed fee or charge requires a full Equality Impact Analysis (EIA), this EIA will be undertaken prior to the introduction of the change to the respective fee or charge.

5.    Approve the continued delegation for amendments to fees and charges, including those to take account of the result of EIAs, to the relevant Corporate Director following consultation with the Lead Member and the Mayor.

6.    Approve the application of the changes in Street Trading fees and charges, to take effect from 1 April 2023.  Cabinet approved on 18 January 2022 to commence the consultation process in respect of Street Trading fees and charges, as detailed in the Fees and Charges 2022-23 report.  The consultation has subsequently been carried out in 2022.

To consider the Budget Fees and Charges report that is going to Cabinet on Wednesday, 14th December, 2022

Item was withdrawn.