Content

Consideration was given to the recommendations
of the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee in
respect of fees and charges 2026/27 for waste, leisure and
environmental health.   The
charging proposals reflected a range of factors including the
Borough Councils overall financial position, market position,
trading patterns, the current rate of inflation and customer
feedback.
 
Due regard was given to the views of the
Committee, the financial and value for money considerations, the
assessment of risk and the legal implications.  Cabinet welcomed the proposal for introducing a
charge to new property developers to include capital costs,
delivery costs and a reasonable administration element for the
provision of all bins and waste containers.    In addition, to recovering the cost
for providing bins and containers at new residential properties,
the feasibility of seeking the cost for the provision of public
litter bins related to new developments was supported. 
 
In recognition of the Borough Councils overall
financial position, the increasing challenges in achieving further
expenditure savings and the importance of maximising income where
possible, Cllr Boughton proposed, Cllr Keers seconded and
Cabinet
 
RESOLVED:   That
 
(1)           
the proposed
schedule of charges for garden waste subscriptions, as set out in
5.1.4 of the report, be approved;

 
(2)           
the proposed
schedule of charges for household bulky refuse and fridge/freezer
collection service, as set out in 5.2.4 of the report, be
approved;
 
(3)           
the proposed
charge for “missed” refuse collection, as set out in
5.3.2 of the report, be approved;
 
(4)           
the proposed
schedule of charges in respect of Stray Dog redemption service, as
set out in 5.5.4 of the report, be approved;
 
(5)           
the proposed
charge for Tonbridge Allotment, as set out in 5.6.2 of the report,
be approved;
 
(6)           
the proposed
schedule of charges at Tonbridge Cemetery, as set out in Annex 1
and 5.7.2 of the report, be approved;
 
(7)           
the proposed
continuation of the pest control subsidy for residents in receipt
of Council Tax Reduction Scheme alongside the existing charge, as
set out in 5.8.1 of the report, be approved;
 
(8)           
the proposed
schedule of charges for Condemned Food Certificates, as set out in
5.9.2 of the report, be approved;
 
(9)           
the proposed
charge for Exported Food Certificates, as set out in 5.10.4 of the
report, be approved;
 
(10)       
the proposed
charge for food hygiene requests for re-visits, as set out in
5.11.2 of the report, be approved;
 
(11)       
the proposed
charge for provision of services in respect of contaminated land,
as set out in 5.12.5 of the report, be approved;
 
(12)       
the proposed
charge for provision of services in respect of private water
supplies, as set out in 5.13.5 of the report, be
approved;
 
(13)       
the above
proposed scale of charges (1) to (12) be implemented from 1 April
2026; and
 
(14)              
the
principle of charging property developers for the provision of all
bins and waste containers at new developments, be approved, and the
feasibility of seeking the cost for the provision of public litter
bins related to new developments from developers, be
explored.