Issue - meetings
Recommendations from the Executive Cabinet
Meeting: 07/12/2022 - Council (Item 67)
67 Recommendations from the Cabinet 
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To consider the recommendations from the meetings of the Cabinet held on 26th October and 23rd November 2022.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Chairman advised that one recommendation had been made at the meeting of the Cabinet held on 26th October 2022 and three recommendations had been made at the meeting held on 23rd November 2022, which had been highlighted for Council’s consideration.
Fees and Charges 2023/24
The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Governance presented a report on the subject of the Fees and Charges 2023/24. Members were advised that the Medium Term Financial Plan was being prepared on the basis that additional income would be generated from Fees and Charges. It was clarified that the process being followed for the review of income to be realised from 1st April 2023 included an assessment of each fee to identify how it met the Council’s Strategic Purposes and the level of increase that was proposed as well as taking account of present economic conditions, including current inflation of over 10%. Council was informed that the levels of increase had been based on a robust estimate of the impact of cost increases and demand within the services and the Council’s overall financial position. This included assessing the affordability of any of these increases to our residents and customers.
The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Governance highlighted that Appendix 1 contained within the report detailed all the Fees and Charges for each area with a commentary against each block. Members were advised that the Council’s proposal was to increase all Fees and Charges by 10%. It was confirmed that the 10% had been applied to contributions and Fees and Charges budgets, however, had not been applied where charges were set statutorily i.e. for, Lifeline, SLA Income, or services that were charged across a number of Councils, such as Worcestershire Regulatory Services.
It was estimated that the increase in income generated from the proposed increases were:
|
Year |
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
2025/26 |
|
Base Budget |
3,820,000 |
3,899,000 |
3,904,000 |
|
10% Increase |
382,000 |
389,000 |
390,000 |
If these Fees and Charges 2023/24 were agreed, it was confirmed that they would be included in the Medium-Term Financial Plan Tranche 1.
Following the presentation of the report it was confirmed by Members that there was no longer car parking at the Alvechurch Sports and Social Club.
Concerns were raised about the increases in Fees and Charges 2023/24 and although the level of inflation was currently over 10% this did not necessarily transfer to the increase in income for residents. It was queried by some Members whether the necessary level of scrutiny had been applied to the increases. Specific reference was made to the increase of 49% on allotment charges and it was confirmed that this proposed increase would bring Bromsgrove District Council more in line with charges made by other Councils across the County.
The recommendation was proposed by Councillor G. N Denaro and seconded by Councillor K. May.
RESOLVED that all of the proposed fees and charges for 2023/24 be approved.
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