Agenda item - Fees and Charges 2019-20

Joint report of the Executive Director for Neighbourhoods, Communities & Housing, Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture and Executive Lead Officer - Strategy Governance & Law

1)            That the Committee approves the proposed fees and charges for 2019/20 as set out within the report and its appendices.

2)            That Committee delegates authority to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment & Culture (in relation to paragraphs 3.4-3.11 and 3.16-3.23) and to the Executive Director of Neighbourhoods, Communities & Housing (in relation to paragraphs 3.12-3.15) to increase any charges for fees as notified and set by central Government during the year.

56.1      The Committee considered a joint report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture and the Executive Director, Neighbourhoods, Communities & Housing that set out the proposed 2018/19 fees and charges for the service areas covered by the Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee in accordance with corporate regulations and policy. The Assistant Director, City Transport clarified that a correction was required to the second bullet point of paragraph 3.7 that should delete the word ‘not’.

56.2      Councillor Littman stated that he welcomed fee and charge increases where the council competed with the private sector. Councillor Littman noted that there were a number of above inflation increases in parking fees proposed and reminded the committee that opposition Members had opposed such rises when his Group had been in administration.

56.3      Referring to paragraph 3.7 of the report, Councillor Wares asked for clarification on the classification of a ‘medium demand zone’ and ‘low demand zone’. In relation to paragraph 3.20, Councillor Wares noted that it was intended to increase trade waste prices from April 2019 yet no information on the detail of those rises had been provided to Members.

56.4      The Head of Parking Services clarified that the High demand zone related to the city centre, Medium demand zone related to Brunswick & Adelaide ward and Low demand zone related to the rest of the city. The Assistant Director, City Environmental Management answered that the October 2018 meeting of the Committee had agreed to delegate the increases to the Executive Director and to set prices at a competitive rate. The detail of those increases was still be worked upon and a briefing could be provided to Members once the figures were know.

56.5      In relation to paragraph 3.28 pf the report, Councillor Wares asked if the surplus would be allocated across all cemeteries or a specific few, clarification on attended and unattended cremations and why these were the same price and for clarification on why many of the fees outlined on page 75 of the report listed a 2% fee increase yet the prices remained the same for 2019/20 as it had for 2018/19.

56.6      The Head of Life Events & Electoral Services answered that any surplus would be allocated to all cemeteries based on priority need. With regard to the further two questions asked by Councillor Wares, the information was not available at the meeting and a written response would be provided.

56.7      Councillor Wares stated that it would be useful for Members to know what the forecast of expected parking income was for the various fees and charges.

56.8      The Chair clarified that the forecasted income was detailed in the budget papers submitted to the December 2018 meeting of the Policy, Resources & Growth Committee.

56.9      Councillor Wares replied that the report detailed expected income for all fees and charges however; surplus from parking fees and charges was re-invested in transport projects. Councillor Wares asked that should there be a surplus in this financial year, at what point would the committee consider re-investing that surplus into reducing fees such as traders permits to boost the local economy.

56.10   The Chair replied that income and surplus relating to parking fees and charges was difficult to anticipate as it related purely to demand. Furthermore, parking fees and charges were set to a targeted, methodical approach to reduce congestion, improve air quality and boost the turnover of parking spaces that were most in demand.

56.11   Councillor Robins noted that he understood there were two sizes of dedicated benches yet only one size was detailed in the report. Furthermore, Councillor Robins asked why an additional cost was set for a dedicated bench with a plaque as he believed any dedicated bench would require a plaque to be dedicated.

56.12   The Chair stated that she would request a written response to be sent to Councillor Robins on the matter.

56.13   Councillor Peltzer Dunn queried as to why bowls pitches were set at a price per person rather than per pitch it would be very expensive for multiple participants to book per person. Furthermore, Councillor Peltzer Dunn asked for clarification on the difference between an unattended and attended pitch. In addition, Councillor Peltzer Dunn noted that there was a price increase for Stoolball after the first match yet the report did not specify what that period was.

56.14   The Chair stated that the relevant information was not available at the meeting and therefore a written response would be provided to Councillor Peltzer Dunn.

56.15   RESOLVED-

1)            That the Committee approves the proposed fees and charges for 2019/20 as set out within the report and its appendices.

2)            That Committee delegates authority to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment & Culture (in relation to paragraphs 3.4-3.11 and 3.16-3.23) and to the Executive Director of Neighbourhoods, Communities & Housing (in relation to paragraphs 3.12-3.15) to increase any charges for fees as notified and set by central Government during the year.