Purpose

To seek Cabinet Members
approval for Fees and Charges for services provided by Public
Protection for financial year 2025/26.

Decision

Decision(s):
 

(1)

that existing Trading Standards fees and
charges set out in table one of the report are uprated by 2.60% (as
CPI November 2024) be agreed; and
 

(2)

it be agreed that existing Pest Control and
Food Safety fees and charges set out in table one of the report are
uprated by 2.60% (as CPI November 2024)
 

 
Reason(s) for the
Decision(s):
 
The decision is required in order to allow for
the setting of fees and charges for financial year 2025/26. Each
year these fees and charges are reviewed to consider any
revisions
 
The rate of CPI for November had been used in
consideration of any increases to fees and charges and for 2024
this was 2.60%. The fees and charges shown below have generally
been increased by 2.60% with some rounding-up or rounding-down to
ensure ease of payment and processing.         
 
The majority of charges are directed towards
businesses. It is proposed that the current free pest control
service for residents who are in receipt of Council Tax reduction
scheme benefit, which acts a proxy for other benefits, will be
retained. These are shown below as Table 1 – Proposed
Increases
 
 
Alternative Options
Considered and Rejected
 
The fees and charges could be kept at current
levels, but this has been rejected as this could result in failure
to cover the cost of delivering some chargeable services, reduce
income and the consequent impact upon the budget position. Fees and
Charges could also be increased at a rate above inflation, but this
has again been rejected as it would be unhelpful to people
struggling financially at the present time.