Decision Maker: Cabinet
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: Yes
Is subject to call in?: Yes
The Director, Financial Services provided the Cabinet with a report, setting out the proposed revisions to Council fees and charges levels for the financial year 2019/20, all to be effective from 1st April 2019 or as soon as is practicable thereafter
The Director, Financial Services reported on the results of the review undertaken by Cabinet in respect of the Councils proposed fees and Charges for the 2019/20 financial year, highlighting the reviews objective of continuing to provide a comprehensive range of quality services at affordable prices.
Members were advised that the outcome of the review was a proposed 2.90% standard increase to fees and charges (allowing for rounding adjustments as appropriate) with the exception of a number of areas that were proposed to be subject to specific treatment. The Director referred members to table 1, set out in section 5 of his report which provided a Summary of the proposed fees and charges not subject to the proposed standard increase.
Members were advised of the details in respect of Meals on Wheels, Day Centre Meals, and Houses in Multiple Occupation. The Director advised that the total estimated income that would be generated by the proposals outlined within the report would be £42k in a full year. Before concluding his report the Director also referenced previous Cabinet decisions approved in relation to fees and charges during the 2018/19 financial year which would be incorporated into the Council’s 2019/20 proposed Budget Strategy.
The Leader of the Council thanked the Officers for the report and commented on the proposed 2.90% standard increase to fees and charges, which he commented was a reasonable amount. The Leader commented on the freezing of charges as highlighted within the report, following consideration of the feedback received from the Budget consultation process.
The Deputy Leader welcomed the freeze to school meals and also spoke of the rationale for the proposed schedule of fees in respect of Houses in Multiple Occupation, referencing the regulation and enforcement schemes in place in relation to HMOs needed to be undertaken by the Authority.
Other Members also spoke positively on the proposed charges for HMOs commenting on the need to ensure that the young people within the County Borough were given the highest standard of accommodation, with the Council ensuring health and safety for the students and their wellbeing was catered for by the respective landlords. Reference was also made to the Treforest Property Accreditation Scheme, where properties within this accreditation would receive a 10% reduction.
Following discussions it was AGREED:
1. To approve the proposed revised levels for all areas of the Council’s fees and charges as set out at section 5 of the report and detailed at Appendix 1 of the report.
2. To build the net budgetary impact (£42K for 2019/20) into the budget strategy proposals for consideration by Cabinet and Council as appropriate.
3. To note the fees and charges decisions already approved and included in the 2019/20 proposed budget strategy ( as outlined in paragraph 5.5 of the report)
Publication date: 14/02/2019
Date of decision: 14/02/2019
Decided at meeting: 14/02/2019 - Cabinet
Effective from: 21/02/2019
Accompanying Documents: