The Committee is asked to consider the proposals.

The Leader, the Chief Financial Officer and the Head of Commissioning, Environment and Leisure have been invited to attend for this item.

Updated report added 29 October 2019.

The Chairman welcomed the Leader, the Chief Financial Officer and the Head of Commissioning, Environment and Leisure to the meeting.

The Chairman advised that the report had been considered by Cabinet the previous week, and would be considered by Council the following week.  He said that Appendix I on pages 54-71 were areas where the Council had some discretion on charges and Appendix II listed the fees and charges set by Government which Swale Borough Council (SBC) had no discretion over.

The Leader introduced the report and advised that most fees had been frozen, there were a few small rises and a few new charges.  He highlighted that parking charges were frozen and the fee for the new multi-storey car park in Sittingbourne would be reduced to £7 per day.  The Leader drew attention to the planning fee charges on page 7 of the report, and advised Members that the fee for pre-application planning advice meetings, for very large major and major applications, would be increased to £3,000 and £2,000 respectively.  He also drew attention to the tabled paper which compared the fees charged for pre-application advice in other Kent authorities, and said that SBC set the highest fees in Kent.

The Chairman asked Members to ask questions on the fees and charges set out in Appendix I which was considered page by page.

Page 7

A Member raised concern that that the increase in planning fees would affect some smaller developers.  Other Members raised issues including whether the increase sent out the wrong message to developers, how much income the fees generated and sought clarification on the minimum and maximum level of fees on the tabled paper.

In response, the Leader said that the increase was not significant to deter developers or affect development opportunities in Swale.  The Chief Financial Officer advised that pre-application planning fees income was £120k, as recorded on page 73 of the report.  A Member said that SBC received more major development planning applications than any other Borough in Kent and as the figures on the tabled paper referred to the current year, the fees charged by other authorities for next year was not yet known.

Page 22

In response to the Chairman’s question on who pays for litter picking after events on Council land where no fee is charged, the Head of Commissioning, Environment and Leisure advised that litter management discussions took place with organisers.

Page 28

There was a discussion on the reduction of collection of garden waste bins.  The Head of Commissioning, Environment and Leisure explained that the service was good value for money at £37 per year, but some flexibility was required to allow for the weather and Christmas collections. 

Page 30

A Member drew attention that the comment in New Street developments should read ‘no inflationary increase’ for three of the items.  The Head of Commissioning, Environment and Leisure confirmed he would clarify the position ahead of the Council meeting.

The Head of Commissioning, Environment and Leisure confirmed that fly tipping fees were set by Legislation. 

Page 33

In response to a Member’s question, the Head of Commissioning, Environment and Leisure agreed to look at why there was a reduction in the Hiring of Horses – 5 star establishments and he would update at Council.

Page 42

In response to a Member’s question on the costs of electric vehicle charging for taxis, the Head of Commissioning, Environment and Leisure agreed to find out.

Page 43

In response to a Member’s comment that as the Street Trading Policy was still under review, it was too early to predict increase in cost, the Chief Financial Officer agreed to discuss with officers and update at Council.

Resolved:

(1)  That the report be noted.