Purpose

To present the Discretionary Fees &
Charges for 2025/26 to be taken forward for Consultation

Content

The Cabinet considered
a report of the Director of Corporate Services
which sought approval of the updated Discretionary Fees and
Charges for 2025/26, as a basis for consultation.  
 
The Deputy Chief
Finance Officer was in attendance to
present the report and to address the questions and the comments of
the Cabinet Members.
 
Discretionary Fees and
Charges were reviewed on an annual
basis. At Cabinet 27th August 2024 a 2%
general increase in Discretionary Fees and Charges for 2025/26 had
been agreed for planning purposes, subject to exemptions to be
agreed.
 
The report detailed
the proposed Discretionary Fees and Charges for 2025/26 as a basis
for consultation, and detailed those charges proposed to be exempt
or different from the general 2% increase.
 
Resolved:
1.   
That the updated Discretionary Fees and Charges for 2025/26, as a
basis for consultation be approved;
2.   
That it be noted that a 1% change to the
Discretionary Fees & Charges would mean an increase or decrease
of £42k. Any change to the % increase could be considered as
part of the consultation;
3.   
That the charges exempt from the general 2% increase, as set out in
paragraph 5.3 of the report be approved;
4.   
That  the different % increases, as set
out in paragraph 5.4 of the report be approved;
5.   
That the proposed new Discretionary Fees & Charges as set out
in paragraph 5.5 of the report be
approved.
 
Reason for
decision:
The fees and charges listed in the report had been proposed
by each Directorate, taking into account the 2% general uplift in
Discretionary Fees and Charges.
It was recommended
that no uplift was applied to the fees and charges detailed in
paragraph 5.3 of the report.
It was recommended that the fees and charges in
paragraph 5.4 were uplifted by the amounts stated.
It was recommended that the new fees and charges in
paragraph 5.5 be approved for consultation.
 
Alternatives
considered and rejected:
The alternative was
not to review or increase the Council’s fees and charges.
This would potentially reduce the income available to the Council
and make it more difficult to achieve a balanced budget.