Issue - meetings

Report number: CAB/WS/21/042

Portfolio holder: Councillor Sarah Broughton

Lead officer: Rachael Mann

Resolved:

That the revised West Suffolk Fees and Charges Policy, as contained in Appendix A to Report number: CAB/WS/21/042, be approved.

(Report number CAB/WS/21/042)

The Cabinet considered this report which explained that the Council’s Fees and Charges Policy had been last revised in 2014.  In the context of the transformation work, the opportunity had been taken to review the Council’s approach to fees and charges, in order to ensure that their contribution was maximised to the Strategic Framework and the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Councillor Sarah Broughton, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Property drew relevant issues to the attention of the Cabinet and explained that the fees and charges that could be set by the Council for the provision of services to residents or other businesses, varied depending on the legislative basis behind them.  Statutory fees and charges were set by the Government, with councils having no control or very little (within a range) over pricing, whilst discretionary services were defined as those that a council was authorised, but not required to provide.

The report set out the refreshed principles governing when, and at what level fees were set, so that decisions on individual fees and charges could be taken within a clear context.  Fees and charges would be reviewed on an annual basis (unless agreed otherwise), such as licensing fees, that were set three-yearly and incorporated within the overall West Suffolk budget setting arrangements.

Therefore, the revised West Suffolk Fees and Charges Policy was attached at Appendix A for adoption.

Resolved:

That the revised West Suffolk Fees and Charges Policy, as contained in Appendix A to Report number: CAB/WS/21/042, be approved.