Content

The Cabinet considered
a report of the Director of Corporate Services and Chief Finance
Officer, which sought to inform of the proposed Discretionary Fees
and Charges for 2025/26, and those charges proposed to be exempt or
different from the general 2% increase.
 
The report author
was in attendance to present the
information and to address the questions and the comments of the
Cabinet Members.
 
The Senior Officer
informed that the 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
consultation.
Following
consultation, the Discretionary Fees and Charges in the Music
Service had been increased and some of
the Town Hall charges had been updated to match the most recent
Business Case.
 
Resolved:
1.   
That, following consultation, the updated Discretionary Fees and
Charges for 2025/26 be considered and recommended to Budget Council
for approval, including:

-      
the charges exempt from the general 2% increase, as set out in
paragraph 5.3 of the report;

-      
the different % increases, as set out in paragraph 5.4 of the
report;

-      
the proposed new Discretionary Fees & Charges as set out in
paragraph 5.5 of the report;
2.   
That it be noted that a 1% change to the
Discretionary Fees & Charges would mean an increase or decrease
of £42k.
 
Reason for
decision:
Fees and charges
were reviewed annually as part of the
Council’s budget setting process. This ensured that they were
set at the appropriate level for the prevailing economic conditions
and represent good practice in terms of the Council’s aim to
provide value for money.
 
Alternatives
considered and rejected:
The alternative was
not to review or increase our fees and charges. This would
potentially reduce the income available to the Council and make it
more difficult to achieve a balanced budget.