Agenda item - Fees and Charges 2024-25

RESOLVED:

That Committee:

1. Agreed the proposed fees and charges for 2024/25 as set out within the report.

2. Agreed the proposed fees and charges in paragraphs 3.4 - 3.15 relating to Pre-Application Advice, Planning Performance Agreements and S106 Deed of Variation, to be implemented with immediate effect in the current financial year 2023/24 allowing for lead in time to update systems, charging methods and notice periods.

3. Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment & Culture (in relation to paragraphs 3.4 - 3.30), to change fees and charges as notified and set by central Government during the year.

Note: If the above recommendations are not agreed, or if the committee wishes to amend the recommendations, then the item will need to be referred to the Strategy, Finance & City Regeneration Committee meeting on 8th February 2024 to be considered as part of the overall 2024/25 budget proposals. This is because the 2024/25 budget proposals are developed on the assumption that fees and charges are agreed as recommended and any failure to agree, or a proposal to agree different fees and charges, will have an impact on the overall budget proposals, which means it needs to be dealt with by Strategy, Finance & City Regeneration Committee as per the requirements of the constitution. This does not fetter the committee’s ability to make recommendations to Strategy, Finance & City Regeneration Committee.

48.1 The Chair invited Max Woodford to introduce the report starting on page 135 of the Agenda.

48.2 Councillors Cattell, Bagaeen, Hill, raised queries about impact of inflation and fees for planning advice.

The Chair took a recorded vote on the recommendations, which were passed to 8 with 2 abstentions.

RESOLVED:

That Committee:

1. Agreed the proposed fees and charges for 2024/25 as set out within the report.

2. Agreed the proposed fees and charges in paragraphs 3.4 - 3.15 relating to Pre-Application Advice, Planning Performance Agreements and S106 Deed of Variation, to be implemented with immediate effect in the current financial year 2023/24 allowing for lead in time to update systems, charging methods and notice periods.

3. Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Economy, Environment & Culture (in relation to paragraphs 3.4 - 3.30), to change fees and charges as notified and set by central Government during the year.

Note: If the above recommendations are not agreed, or if the committee wishes to amend the recommendations, then the item will need to be referred to the Strategy, Finance & City Regeneration Committee meeting on 8th February 2024 to be considered as part of the overall 2024/25 budget proposals. This is because the 2024/25 budget proposals are developed on the assumption that fees and charges are agreed as recommended and any failure to agree, or a proposal to agree different fees and charges, will have an impact on the overall budget proposals, which means it needs to be dealt with by Strategy, Finance & City Regeneration Committee as per the requirements of the constitution. This does not fetter the committee’s ability to make recommendations to Strategy, Finance & City Regeneration Committee.