DECISION

Communities, Localities and Culture

1.    To approve the revised fees and charges as set out in Appendix 1 to the report with effect from 1st April 2015.

Development and Renewal

2.    To approve the revised fees and charges as set out in Appendix 2 to the report with effect from 1st April 2015.

Education, Social Care and Wellbeing

3.    To approve the revised fees and charges as set out in Appendix 3 to the report with effect from 1st April 2015.

Law, Probity & Governance

4.    To approve the revised fees and charges as set out in Appendix 4 to the report with effect from 1st April 2015.

Licensing Charges

5.    To agree in principle the Licensing charges in Appendix 6 to the report and refer to the Licensing Committee for final approval.

Action by:

ACTING CORPORATE DIRECTOR, RESOURCES (C. HOLME)

(Interim Service Head, Finance and Procurement (B. Scarr)

Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources, introduced the report taking this report and Agenda Items 10.4 (Council Tax Base Report) and 10.5 (General Fund Capital and Revenue Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan) together. The following debate considered all three items and is produced below.

He explained the background to the financial situation for the Council and its goal of protecting font line services, staff and vulnerable residents from the impact of the government funding cuts. He reminded Members of the consultation process that had taken place the previous autumn and how that had influenced the final proposals including by withdrawing a number of proposals such as those around nurseries. Other proposals had been withdrawn for more consultation or had been amended such as those relating to the Muslim and African family service.

He also reported on growth items due to external pressure for areas such as the freedom pass and waste treatment, growth due to strategic issues such as capital project delivery and also growth due to policies such as free school meals and higher education awards.

He considered the proposals to represent a solid budget in draft form and he recommended acceptance of the recommendations.

Cabinet Members discussed the report. They acknowledged the hard work of the Lead Member and officers in compiling the proposals and examined a number of issues including:

·         The potential length of the austerity programme.

·         The potential impact of cuts and of increased fees such as on small businesses from commercial waste charges, which the Lead Member promised to keep under review.

·         The need to be clear on the level of charges on pest control for different groups/users and Councillor Alibor Choudhury agreed to circulate a note to Cabinet Members on the details of the proposed increases to charges to make it clear the residential exclusions.

·         Whether the impact on the poor and vulnerable had been mitigated in specific cases.

·         The importance of balancing the books.

The Mayor thanked Members for their contribution to the debate and their help in preparing the budget. He highlighted how the Council continued to deliver excellent services despite the need to find savings. He agreed the recommendations as set out in the report.

RESOLVED

Communities, Localities and Culture

1.    To approve the revised fees and charges as set out in Appendix 1 to the report with effect from 1st April 2015.

Development and Renewal

2.    To approve the revised fees and charges as set out in Appendix 2 to the report with effect from 1st April 2015.

Education, Social Care and Wellbeing

3.    To approve the revised fees and charges as set out in Appendix 3 to the report with effect from 1st April 2015.

Law, Probity & Governance

4.    To approve the revised fees and charges as set out in Appendix 4 to the report with effect from 1st April 2015.

Licensing Charges

5.    To agree in principle the Licensing charges in Appendix 6 to the report and refer to the Licensing Committee for final approval.