Cabinet Member for Finance

Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Finance and the above Cabinet Member which set out the proposed level of fees and charges to be levied for the next financial year 2015/16 for submission to Council.

The Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report and referred Members to the tabled paper, which set out the recommendations arising from the Scrutiny Committee’s review of fees and charges and the Cabinet’s response.

The Chairman requested that the recommendations from the Scrutiny Committee be considered in order.

Councillor Andy Booth, Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee, introduced the first recommendation relating to car park Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs). 

Cabinet Members expressed their support for the proposals but noted that the maximum level of penalty which can be levied was set nationally.

The Cabinet Member for Environmental and Rural Affairs undertook to ascertain whether the timescales for the penalties could be altered.  The Chairman proposed that delegation be given to the Head of Finance in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environmental and Rural Affairs to review this, and upon being put to the vote this was agreed.

A Member considered that the Council should be lobbying central Government to allow Local Authorities to have more freedom over their charges; and raised concern at the administration costs for the Council in chasing unpaid fines.

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee introduced the second recommendation relating to Environmental FPNs. 

The Cabinet Member for Environmental and Rural Affairs advised that the Council took the issue of littering, graffiti and dog fouling seriously and was already charging the maximum penalty allowed in legislation.  He advised that officers were exploring the number of FPNs issued and whether capacity could be increased within the team to target this issue.

The Cabinet Member for Housing acknowledged that this was a significant issue for local residents and suggested greater use of social media to improve awareness and catch people committing offences.

The Cabinet noted that no further action could be taken on this recommendation.

The Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee introduced the third recommendation relating to waste carrier offences. 

The Cabinet Member for Localism, Sports, Culture and Heritage suggested that the Council lobbies Government through the Local Government Association to request greater freedoms in charging for offences to better represent the views and concerns of local residents.

The Cabinet noted that no further action could be taken on this recommendation.

A Member of the Scrutiny Committee introduced the fourth recommendation relating to householder planning advice charges and considered that the Cabinet’s response did not reflect the request being made by the Committee. 

The Cabinet Member for Planning undertook to follow up this issue with the Member and report back to Council.

With regard to licences for scrap metal dealers, the Chief Executive explained that the Council cannot make a profit on the licence and the fee had to cover real costs incurred in administering the licence.

The Head of Finance confirmed that a number of further questions had been raised at the Scrutiny Committee meeting and responses were being prepared for the Council meeting.

RECOMMENDED:

(1)  That the proposed fees and charges for 2015/16 as set out in the report be approved for submission to Council.

(2)  That the recommendations from the Scrutiny Committee be noted and that the proposed increases relating to car park FPNs, environmental FPNs and waste carrier offences are not approved, for the reasons set out in the tabled paper.  The recommendation relating to scrap metal dealers to be approved for consideration by Council.

(3)  That delegation be given to the Head of Finance and the Cabinet Member for Environmental and Rural Affairs to ascertain whether the Council can change the timescales for penalties within legislation but not increase the charges and if so, to include this in the recommendations to Council.

(4)  That delegation be given to the Head of Finance and the Cabinet Member for Planning to review the Scrutiny Committee’s proposal relating to householder planning advice charges and include a response in the report to Council.