Purpose

To consider a variation to the current
discretionary general licence fees for 2026/27.

Decision

The proposed variation to fees and charges
relating to the Council’s animal welfare, scrap metal, sex
establishment, street trading and pavement licensing functions, is
approved with effect from 1 April 2026.

Reasons for the decision

The Council is expected to conduct regular
reviews of licence fees to ensure that, where statutory powers
exist, the cost of the licensing regime is recovered from
applicants and licence holders.

Alternative options considered

The Council may consider retaining the
existing licence fees. However, any failure to recover costs
permitted by statute would require an unnecessary subsidisation of
the licensing regime at the expense of the Council’s
taxpayers.