Issue - meetings

Local authorities adopt a range of approaches to charging for services.  These approaches reflect local policy choices, custom and practice.  Some authorities choose relatively commercial approaches, seeking to make surpluses on at least some activities in order to cross subsidise others.  Others try to use charging regimes to drive residents’ and customers’ behaviour, and still others adopt an approach aimed, at most, at recovering the costs of some discretionary activities. Brent’s approach has not been subject to a fundamental review for some time, and this report introduces the principles by which such a review will be carried out for future years. Fees and charges for 2015/16 have also been reviewed. 

(i)         that it be noted that there will be no increase in 2015/16 to the fees and charges for the services set out in Appendix 2 of the report from the Chief Finance Officer;

(ii)        that approval be given to the increases to the fees and charges set out in Appendix 1, effective 1 July 2015 or as soon thereafter as the changes can practically be implemented;

(iii)       that it be noted that a wider review of fees and charges would be carried out during the 2015/16 year to inform future budget and policy making, the results of which will be considered at a future meeting.

Councillor Pavey (Deputy Leader) introduced the report from the Chief Finance Officer which proposed fees and charges for 2015/16. He reminded the Cabinet that in the significant majority of cases charges had been frozen at current levels. However, Councillor Pavey acknowledged that financial pressures made this position unsustainable and a full review was considered to be required. The report before members introduced the principles by which such a review would be carried out for future years.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that it be noted that there would be no increase in 2015/16 to the fees and charges for the services set out in Appendix 2 of the report from the Chief Finance Officer;

(ii)        that approval be given to the increases to the fees and charges set out in Appendix 1, effective 1 July 2015 or as soon thereafter as the changes can practically be implemented;

(iii)       that it be noted that a wider review of fees and charges would be carried out during the 2015/16 year to inform future budget and policy making, the results of which will be considered at a future meeting.