Issue - items at meetings - Fees & Charges 2014/15 - Venues, Outdoor Events, Seafront, Sports Facilities and Golf Courses

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (copy attached)

RESOLVED – (1) That the committee approves the fees and charges for Venues for 2014/2015 in Appendix 1 to the report;

(2) That the committee approves the fees and charges for Outdoor Events for 2014/15 in Appendix 2;

(3) That the committee approves the fees and charges for the Seafront for 2014/15 in Appendix 3;

(4) That the committee approves the fees and charges for Sports Facilities for 2014/15 in Appendix 4;

(5) That the committee approves the next 3 years fees and charges for Golf Courses in Appendix 5;

(6) That the committee approves the fees and charges for the Royal Pavilion & Museums for 2014/15 in Appendix 6; and

(7)That the committee grants delegated authority for officers to negotiate hire fees where commercially necessary outside the approved fees & charges.

54.1 The Committee considered a report of the Assistant Chief Executive setting out the proposed fees and charges for 2014/15.

54.2 It was noted that the fees and charges for services were reviewed annually in line with the Corporate Fees & Charges Policy. As a minimum, all fees and charges are increased by the corporate rate of inflation which has been set at 2.5%. This is the same percentage by which income budgets will be increased. For the Sports Facilities and Golf Courses Contracts there is a formula to calculate the inflationary price increase linked to the All Items Retail Prices Index Excluding Mortgage Interest Payments (RPIX). The increase calculated for 2013/14 is 3.43%.

54.3 The council’s Financial Regulations require that any increases proposed over and above inflation are agreed by the council, they also state that it is good practice to report on fees and charges that are rising by inflation only.

54.4 This combined report presents the review of fees and charges across five service areas: Venues, Seafront, Sports Facilities including Golf Courses, Outdoor Events and Royal Pavilion and Museums. The changes would be implemented from April 2014. Revised copies of Appendix 5 were circulated, which showed some slight reductions to the level of charges originally proposed at golf courses.

54.5 The Head of Sport and Leisure explained that the majority of tees proposed for the sports facilities had been increased by 3.4% but that with rounding some fees had a slightly adjusted percentage change. Above inflation increases were proposed for health and fitness and the new all weather pitch at Stanley Deason Leisure Centre due to the improvements in provision. The level of charges proposed including those for golf courses were based on charges across the region for use of similar facilities and compared with them favourably.

54.6 Councillor Morgan enquired whether consideration had been given to applying a sliding scale of fees to enable local community groups and charities to hire facilities, especially Hove Town Hall and the Brighton Centre similar to the charges for Outdoor Events. In response it was explained that  there  was often flexibility in charges for community groups. Councillor Morgan stated that this was not apparent from the report also, that it was important that this was publicised. There would not be take up from community based groups if they were unaware that there was the ability to negotiate in this way. The Assistant Chief Executive stated that she would ascertain the information provided to community groups when they were contemplating making a hiring and would convey that to Councillor Morgan.

54.8 Councillor Brown referred to the fact that approval had been given for weddings to be held in Preston Manor and enquired whether there had been an increase in the number of bookings as a result. It was confirmed that there had not been tan increase to date. However the venue was due to be marketed at a forthcoming wedding fair which would showcase the city’s offer and there had also been a number of enquiries.

54.9    Councillor C Theobald referred to the charges for use of the Royal Pavilion, these were very high when it was taken into account that the constituent elements of the package e.g., the cost of catering, charge for the ceremony etc., were in addition to venue hire. Councillor Theobald also considered that the venue might be more attractive if it would be possible for its capacity to be increased from 90 to 100. It was explained that the capacity for the State Dining Room had been set at 90 in order to comply with fire regulations. That capacity could be increased by hiring the Music Room too but an additional charge was payable for that. Very careful thought was given to the level of fees charged which also took account of the Pavilion’s uniqueness and the demand for its use which was high.

54.10  RESOLVED – (1) That the committee approves the fees and charges for Venues for 2014/2015 in Appendix 1 to the report;

(2) That the committee approves the fees and charges for Outdoor Events for 2014/15 in Appendix 2;

(3) That the committee approves the fees and charges for the Seafront for 2014/15 in Appendix 3;

(4) That the committee approves the fees and charges for Sports Facilities for 2014/15 in Appendix 4;

(5) That the committee approves the next 3 years fees and charges for Golf Courses in Appendix 5;

(6) That the committee approves the fees and charges for the Royal Pavilion & Museums for 2014/15 in Appendix 6; and

(7)That the committee grants delegated authority for officers to negotiate hire fees where commercially necessary outside the approved fees & charges.