Issue - meetings

This report sets out proposed increases in fees and charges for council services from 1^st January 2011 and for on and off street parking charges from 1^st February 2011.  The increases are one of the measures the council needs to take to address the projected budget gap of £37m in 2011/12 resulting from reductions in government grant and pressures on the council’s budget. Currently many fees and charges for council services in Brent are below fees and charges by other London councils and the increases proposed in this report will bring charges in Brent more into line with other councils.

(i)         that the proposed increases in fees and charges in Appendix A to the report from the Director of Finance and Corporate Services apply from 1 January 2011;

(ii)        that the  proposed increases from 1 January 2011 in charges for advertising, design and the language service be agreed;

(ii)        agree that in the event that any of the proposed increases in paragraphs (i) or (ii) above are in excess of the permitted maximum, the increases would be set at the maximum level allowed;

(iv)       that the increase in on- and off-street parking charges set out in paragraphs 5.8 and 5.9 of the report and the issue of the necessary notices to allow the increases to apply from 1  February 2011 or as soon as possible thereafter be agreed;

(v)        that the first hour of off-street parking is frozen at its current level and that officers report back to the next meeting of the Executive on the most effective way of implementing a free first hour parking;

(vi)       that be noted that, for those fees and charges that are inclusive of VAT, the increase would include the increase in VAT from 17.5% to 20% from 1 January 2011;

(vii)      that it be noted that officers will be reviewing charges in other areas listed in paragraph 5.10 of the report and would report back to the Executive on these issues.

Councillor Butt (Lead Member, Resources) introduced the report which set out proposed increases in fees and charges for council services from 1 January 2011 and for on and off street parking charges from 1 February 2011. He pointed out that the increases were one of the measures the council needed to take to address the projected budget gap of £37m in 2011/12 resulting from reductions in government grant and pressures on the council’s budget. Currently many fees and charges for council services in Brent were below fees and charges by other London councils and the increases proposed in the report would bring charges in Brent more into line with other councils. Councillor Butt outlined the increases involved and added that residents would be able to apply for discounts.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that the proposed increases in fees and charges in Appendix A to the report from the Director of Finance and Corporate Services apply from 1 January 2011;

(ii)        that the  proposed increases from 1 January 2011 in charges for advertising, design and the language service be agreed;

(ii)        agree that in the event that any of the proposed increases in paragraphs (i) or (ii) above are in excess of the permitted maximum, the increases would be set at the maximum level allowed;

(iv)       that the increase in on- and off-street parking charges set out in paragraphs 5.8 and 5.9 of the report and the issue of the necessary notices to allow the increases to apply from 1  February 2011 or as soon as possible thereafter be agreed;

(v)        that the first hour of off-street parking is frozen at its current level and that officers report back to the next meeting of the Executive on the most effective way of implementing a free first hour parking;

(vi)       that be noted that, for those fees and charges that are inclusive of VAT, the increase would include the increase in VAT from 17.5% to 20% from 1 January 2011;

(vii)      that it be noted that officers will be reviewing charges in other areas listed in paragraph 5.10 of the report and would report back to the Executive on these issues.