Issue - items at meetings - Life Events Fees and Charges for 2014/15

Report of the Executive Director for Finance & Resources (copy attached).

RESOLVED: That the fees and charges for Life Events in Appendix 1 (Bereavement Services) and Appendix 2 (Registration) be approved.

103.1    The Executive Director for Finance & Resources introduced the report concerning Life Events Fees and Charges for 2014/15; the remit of the Committee included the approval of fees and charges for Life Events, ands the report set out the detail and savings from increased income. The report included extensive benchmarking, and whilst proposing some increases it retained low cost options.

103.2    Councillor Littman welcomed the report as a means to put services on a more commercial footing; the model was used to provide quality services that could pay their own way.

103.3    Councillor G. Theobald stated that he did not welcome the report and opposed the 10% increase in fees; he went on to question this level of increase against the proposal of the administration to raise Council Tax by 4.75% in the 2014/15 budget – triggering a local referendum.

103.4    The Chair explained that the settlement from Central Government had reduced year on year, and the costs of the service would remain within a comparable level and in line with other authorities.

103.5    Councillor Peltzer Dunn noted a specific query in relation ‘appointments cancellation fees’ and the ‘no show penalty charge’ which suggested there could be less incentive for service users to cancel their appointment; Officers noted these concerns and agreed this matter could be looked at further.

103.6    Councillor A. Norman noted the number of compliments that the bereavement services received locally, and she felt an increase of 5% would have been more reasonable; however, she welcomed the children bereavement fees being frozen following an amendment the previous year.

103.7    The Chair then put the recommendation to the vote.

103.8    RESOLVED: That the fees and charges for Life Events in Appendix 1 (Bereavement Services) and Appendix 2 (Registration) be approved.