The report proposes the revised fees and charges for 2015 and identifies those charges where increases are significantly different from the 2% advisory increase as per the 2015/16 Budget Strategy.  It also includes the revised Fees & Charges Policy.

RECOMMENDED to Council

1.      That the response to the consultation with Overview and Scrutiny, as set out in Appendix C to the Executive, be noted.

2.      That the fees and charges for 2015, as set out in the Executive report, be approved and the Director of Improvement and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Corporate Resources be authorised to determine the schedule of charges for Registration Services following formal responses from Luton or Bedford Borough Councils.

3.      That the Fees and Charges Policy, as set out in the Executive report, be approved.

The Executive considered a report from the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources that proposed the revised fees and charges for 2015, identified those charges where the increases were significantly different from the 2% advisory increase as per the 2015/16 Budget Strategy and set out the revised Fees and Charges Policy.

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources advised that the fees and charges for the Registration Services were still waiting approval from Luton and Bedford Borough Councils.  He then proposed the following amendment to recommendation 2, which was duly seconded:-

·         that the fees and charges for 2015, as set out in the Executive report, be approved and that the Director of Improvement and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Corporate Resources be authorised to determine the schedule of charges for Registration Services following formal responses from Luton or Bedford Borough Councils.

In response to questions, the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources welcomed the co-convened meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees to consider the draft fees and charges scheduled.  The co-convened meeting was a new way of working to improve efficiency across the Council by enabling the three Overview and Scrutiny Committees to meet as one Committee to discuss cross cutting issues.  As this was the first meeting of this kind there were improvements to be made.

Reason for decision:  To agree the fees and charges prices for 2015 as part of delivering a balanced budget for 2015/16 and identify resource requirements for the Medium Term and to agree the Fees & Charges Policy.

RECOMMENDED to Council

1.      that the response to the consultation with Overview and Scrutiny, as set out in Appendix C to the Executive report, be noted;

2.      that the fees and charges for 2015, as set out in the Executive report, be approved and that the Director of Improvement and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Corporate Resources be authorised to determine the schedule of charges for Registration Services following formal responses from Luton or Bedford Borough Councils; and

3.      that the Fees and Charges Policy, as set out in the Executive report, be approved.