Issue - meetings

Fees and Charges Review 2019-2020

Meeting: 06/11/2018 - Cabinet (Resources) Panel (Item 5)

5 Fees and Charges Review 2019/2020 pdf icon PDF 74 KB

[To review the fees and charges for the financial year 2019/2020]

Additional documents:

Decision:

1.     That the fees and charges as set out in Appendices 1 to 4 to the report be approved to take effect from 1 December 2018 (or as soon as possible thereafter).

 

2.     That authority be jointly delegated to the responsible Cabinet Member in consultation with the relevant Director as appropriate to vary fees and charges as detailed in Appendices 1 to 4 to the report.

 

3.     That authority be jointly delegated to the responsible Cabinet Member in consultation with the relevant Director as appropriate to approve any other fees and charges not detailed in Appendices 1 to 4 to the report.

 

4.     That in the following instances, authority be jointly delegated to the relevant Director in consultation with the Director of Finance, to vary existing fees and charges during the financial year:

 

a.      Where the cost of food (including frozen food) and drink procured for resale or onward supply changes, fees and charges may be set taking the new costs into account.

b.      Where short-term change in fees and charges to ensure that a business opportunity can be pursued or secured; if the change is for a period of more than three months then the change should be referred to Cabinet (Resources) Panel for decision during the three month period.

c.      Where market conditions dictate, fees may be varied provided that satisfactory market information is maintained.

d.      Charges to external organisations for bespoke professional services may be varied.

e.      Court summons costs charged to council tax and business rates payers may be varied following default on payment.

f.       Charges to schools/academies for services delivered under Service Level Agreements (SLAs) may be varied.

g.      Where funding allocations are amended during the year.

h.      Library charges may be varied to fall in line with Black Country Libraries in partnership participating authorities (Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Sandwell).

 

5.     That, should any amendments be made to the VAT treatment of specific fees and charges, authority to vary those fees and charges be delegated to the Cabinet Member of Resources, together with the responsible Cabinet Member, in consultation with the Director of Finance and the relevant Director.

 

6.    That it be noted that the fees and charges for the following items, are not reviewed as part of this report as they would be subject to separate arrangements for their approval:

a.      Adult social care contributions to care packages.

b.      Street trading, Hackney Carriage and private hire licensing and general licensing charges.

 

7.     That it be noted that the fees and charges which are no longer applicable have been excluded from Appendices 1 to 4 of the report.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Louise Miles presented the report on proposed fees and charges to be levied by the Council to take effect from 1 December, or as soon as possible thereafter.

 

Councillor Steve Evans said that he was pleased to report that market rental fees across the city’s three markets were to be held at existing rates or reduced. This was testament to the Council’s continuing work to support and sustain its markets.  He also reported that he was pleased to see that charges for the hire of football pitches would be held at last year’s rates, particularly given the health and wellbeing benefits of the sporting activity.

 

Councillor Peter Bilson added that where increases to fees and charges were proposed, they were generally in line with inflation.

 

Resolved:

1.    That the fees and charges as set out in Appendices 1 to 4 to the report be approved to take effect from 1 December 2018 (or as soon as possible thereafter).

 

2.    That authority be jointly delegated to the responsible Cabinet Member in consultation with the relevant Director as appropriate to vary fees and charges as detailed in Appendices 1 to 4 to the report.

 

3.    That authority be jointly delegated to the responsible Cabinet Member in consultation with the relevant Director as appropriate to approve any other fees and charges not detailed in Appendices 1 to 4 to the report.

 

4.    That in the following instances, authority be jointly delegated to the relevant Director in consultation with the Director of Finance, to vary existing fees and charges during the financial year:

 

a.     Where the cost of food (including frozen food) and drink procured for resale or onward supply changes, fees and charges may be set taking the new costs into account.

b.     Where short-term change in fees and charges to ensure that a business opportunity can be pursued or secured; if the change is for a period of more than three months then the change should be referred to Cabinet (Resources) Panel for decision during the three month period.

c.      Where market conditions dictate, fees may be varied provided that satisfactory market information is maintained.

d.     Charges to external organisations for bespoke professional services may be varied.

e.     Court summons costs charged to council tax and business rates payers may be varied following default on payment.

f.       Charges to schools/academies for services delivered under Service Level Agreements (SLAs) may be varied.

g.     Where funding allocations are amended during the year.

h.     Library charges may be varied to fall in line with Black Country Libraries in partnership participating authorities (Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Sandwell).

 

5.    That, should any amendments be made to the VAT treatment of specific fees and charges, authority to vary those fees and charges be delegated to the Cabinet Member of Resources, together with the responsible Cabinet Member, in consultation with the Director of Finance and the relevant Director.

 

6.    That it be noted that the fees and charges for the following items, are not reviewed as part of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5