Issue - meetings

This report recommends fees and charges for which this Committee is responsible, with the new charges being effective from 1 April 2018.

The Committee:

(1)          Authorised the Chief Finance Officer to vary fees and charges for items generating income under £1,000 per annum and/or for one-off services or items; and

(2)          Subject to the approval of Council:

a)             Agreed the fees and charges for 2018/19 as set out in Annexe 1 to the report and

b)            Noted the parking fees and charges agreed by this Committee on 10 October 2017 as set out in Annexe 3.

The Committee received and considered a report that proposed new fees and charges for services with effect from 1 April 2018.

The report highlighted that the proposed charges would generate an additional estimated income of £219k, offset by a reduction in income of £87k because of other changes, such as change in volumes. This resulted in a net additional income of £132k.  The total changes had resulted in Environment Committee being £66k short of the targeted budget. This was mainly attributable to the changes in arrangements with Surrey County Council in 2018/19 in respect of recycling credits received. These had previously been based on volumes of recycling but would be replaced by fixed payments based on the number of residents in each Waste Collection Authority.

The report also highlighted that the majority of increase within Planning budgets was due to updated national planning fee regulations allowing a 20% increase in fees.  The reduction in budget of £30K due to other changes related to a reduction in building control income, which was under pressure due to local authorities in general losing market share to external Approved Inspectors.

The following points were noted at the meeting:

·                     It was understood that the fees and charges in relation to dealing with abandoned vehicles had not been increased as these were statutory charges not at the Council’s discretion. (Postscript: this was subsequently confirmed. The Removal, Storage and Disposal of Vehicles Regulations 2008 refer);

·                     It was confirmed that no changes were proposed to the parking fees and charges considered and agreed in principle by this Committee in October last year of which the proper statutory notice had already been given. The report highlighted that these had not met the increase in income required by the Medium Term Financial Strategy but subsequent alignment of 2018/19 parking income budgets to actual income received in 2017/18 had resolved this shortfall;

·                     Trade Waste charges reflected changes in controlled waste legislation. An exercise had been undertaken to ensure that charges were in line across the County. Certain anomalies in relation to certain exemptions had also been corrected.

Accordingly, the Committee:

(1)          Authorised the Chief Finance Officer to vary fees and charges for items generating income under £1,000 per annum and/or for one-off services or items; and

(2)          Subject to the approval of Council:

a)             Agreed the fees and charges for 2018/19 as set out in Annexe 1 to the report and

b)            Noted the parking fees and charges agreed by this Committee on 10 October 2017 as set out in Annexe 3.