Agenda item

Finance and Economic Development – (C-063-2020-21) - This report focuses on discretionary fees and charges for 2021/22.

(1)    That the proposed General Fund fees and charges for 2021/22 (excluding Car Parking) as set out in Appendix A to the report were approved;

(2)    That the proposed General Fund Car Parking charges for 2021/22 as set out in Appendix B to the report were approved; and

(3)    That the proposed Council House Rent Increase of 1.5% and a 2.5% increase in other Housing Revenue Account fees and charges for 2021/22 as set out in Appendix C to the report were approved.

The Finance and Economic Development Portfolio Holder introduced the report on the proposed fees and charges for 2021/22.

This report focused on discretionary fees and charges for 2021/22, with detailed proposals for both the Council’s General Fund and ring-fenced Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

As with all councils, the use of charging has become an increasingly important feature of Epping Forest District Council’s financial strategy, as the pressure on the revenue budget limits the extent to which the subsidisation of discretionary services was feasible. Recovering the costs of these services from users where possible helps to ensure the sustainability of the Council’s offer to residents and businesses, beyond the statutory minimum, whilst maintaining the lowest Council Tax possible.

The Medium-Term Financial Plan adopted by Cabinet in November 2020 agreed to an assumed average increase of 1% in General Fund fees and charges for 2021/22 which, given the prevalence of statutory fees and charges, also assumed that some discretionary fees and charges would need an increase beyond that level.

Councillor Philip noted some minor amendments to the schedule such as where it related to Taxi Licensing. All fees and charges were to be frozen except for the Annual Drivers Licence (3-year licence) with a proposed increase from £186.00 to £228.00. There were also slight changes to the charges for special waste collections for over 60’s. The schedule should say, under proposals for 2021/22, for 1-3 units - £13.80; 4-7 units - £20.80; 8-10 units - £27.60; and 11-15 units - £35.00.

Councillor Bedford noted that on page 55 of the agenda the table contained a lot of ticks and asterisks with no explanations as to what they meant. Could this be amended, and an explanation put in. The Portfolio Holder agreed to do this.

Councillor Janet Whitehouse commented on the charges for venue hire at the museum; there seemed to be an excessive charge for refreshments, could this be reviewed. Councillor Philip replied that they would look at the refreshment charges again.

Councillor Murray noted that appendix A and B of the report were very legible, but appendix C was very hard to read, could this be changed.  He was promised that this would be looked at.

Councillor Brookes noticed that the charges for Museum Movers, mainly for senior citizens, (page 38 of the agenda) had gone up from £3.50 to £5.00 this was a steep rise. She was told that the costs had been investigated very carefully and could only say that it maybe they could keep this the same for the next year.

Decision:

(1)    That the proposed General Fund fees and charges for 2021/22 (excluding Car Parking) as set out in Appendix A to the report were approved;

(2)    That the proposed General Fund Car Parking charges for 2021/22 as set out in Appendix B to the report were approved; and

(3)    That the proposed Council House Rent Increase of 1.5% and a 2.5% increase in other Housing Revenue Account fees and charges for 2021/22 as set out in Appendix C to the report were approved.

Reasons for Proposed Decision

As part of the annual budget process changes to fees and charges need to be agreed.

Other options for action

Where the Council has discretion on the level of fees and charges that it sets there were many possible options open to the Council ranging between no increase up to applying quite large increases where justifiable.