To receive the directorate's relevant fees and charges information, noting the Executive proposals and influencing where appropriate changes to fees and charges prior to Council.

The Head of Financial Performance and Support delivered a report detailing proposed changes to Fees and Charges for 2017, the income generated each year, outlining the rationale behind the advisory 1% increase and highlighting those charges which had a significantly differing revision to that of 1%. Members were informed that the Council could only charge according to costs incurred and were not permitted to generate a profit, with any increase over and above the advisory 1% being ratified by full Council. Those charges which reflected a zero increase were confirmed as being cost reflective and at the maximum level of charge.

·           In light of the report Members requested that material costs over and above officer time be taken into consideration and it was confirmed that this would be reflected during the next cyclical review.

·           Members agreed that benchmarking against neighbouring Authorities would be useful, in particular in relation to taxi license charges and requested that additional detail was provided in future reports, suggesting that the method of calculating fees and charges be revisited.

·           A query arose in relation to a variance in leisure centre charges to which it was agreed that Members would receive a written response.

·           Members queried the rationale behind the inclusion of figures which did not relate to fees and charges but were income related and it was confirmed that the system of identifying costs for each service would be improved in future, with a post recruited to in order to focus on the process.

·           Members received confirmation that due to the outsourcing of the legal department, forecast savings were in the region of £200k.

·           Outsourced services such as pest control often remained static due to the length of contract agreed with the service provider.

RECOMMENDED:-

1.     That the Committee agree the new charges in relation to the Sunday service provided by the Registrars office.

2.     To explore the viability of taxi licensing fees reflecting those of neighbouring authorities.

3.     That future reports reflect improved data around cost association in relation to fees and charges.

4.     That the Executive consider the Fees and Charges prices for 2017 and recommend that the areas highlighted by the Committee be a focus for future reports.