Issue - meetings

This report summarises the Building Control chargeable account.

The Committee noted the contents of the report.

The Committee received and noted a report which summarised activity on the Building Control chargeable account

The report highlighted that the overriding objective when setting building control charges was that the income from performing chargeable functions and providing chargeable advice ought as nearly as possible equate to the costs incurred by the authority in performing those functions over a rolling three year period. The level of work was variable and not directly within the control of the Council. A reasonable approach therefore had to be taken in estimating expenditure and income and the report stated that the Council’s approach to doing this and setting charges conformed to standard practice.

The budget for 2017/18 on the chargeable account had been increased by £42,496 mainly due to the increase in revenue from this service over the previous period.  Savings had been made by holding open a vacant post.  The budget for 2017/18 assumed that the Council would generate £320,000 from building control charges compared to £316,663 in 2016/17.

The Building Control chargeable account had shown a surplus for the past three years but there was the was a risk that future revenue might not remain at previous levels.  The data upon which the split between chargeable and non-chargeable activities were identified had not be reviewed for a number of years. Therefore, a review would be undertaken to ensure that the pattern of chargeable and non-chargeable time and costs had not significantly changed since the last assessment.  This was important because it was a key factor in fee setting and determined the level of surplus or deficits upon the Building Control Account. It was important to ensure that the Council maximised revenue and achieved the requirement to breakeven over a three-year period in accordance with the relevant legislation.