Issue - meetings

To review and approve the proposed fees and charges for 2024-2025 for this Committee and recommend to Corporate Policy and Resources Committee that they approve the proposed fees and Charges for 2024-2025.

The Chief Accountant presented the report on the proposed Fees and Charges for the Committee and advised that as the budget was balanced, if any changes were requested the Committee would need to suggest how the shortfall would be rectified.

The Committee asked about the decrease in fees for some of the Car Parks in Staines and were advised that a full report on Car Parks would be presented to Corporate Policy and Resources Committee and would include a full analysis and explanation of the changes to the fees. The Chief Account advised the Committee that this would be reviewed for the 2025/26 budget with a view to the report on Car Parks going to Neighbourhood Services Committee first and then to Corporate Policy and Resources.

The Committee asked what the maximum increase was for statutory services and were advised that these fees were set by external regulatory bodies or Central Government, and that the guidance from Corporate Policy and Resources Committee was to charge the maximum allowed under regulations.

The Committee queried what the standing charge for repairs to headstones related to and were advised that this was there to cover officer time relating to; checking that the person requesting the repairs was authorised to do so, site visits, and checks that the work has been completed to the correct standard. The Committee asked if this could be communicated to residents and whether the charge was being increased. The Group Head Neighbourhood Services advised that they would check and report back to Members ahead of the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee on 22 January 2024.

The Committee discussed fees for child graves and expressed discomfort over the increase. The Group Head Neighbourhood Services advised that fees for child burials were fully recoverable from Central Government. The Committee requested that information needed to be communicated to residents and the Group Head Neighbourhood services advised that this would be discussed with the Cemetries Manager to ensure this was happening.

The Committee asked why the fees relating to Gambling Licenses were not being increased and were advised that these were statutory fees and as the maximum amount was already being charged it could not be increased further.

The Committee resolved to:

1. Approve the proposed Fees and Charges for 2024-25 for this Committee.

2.    Recommend to Corporate Policy & Resources Committee that they approve the proposed Fees and Charges for 2024-25.