Issue - meetings

RESOLVED –

1.         That the fees and charges set out in the report and the attached appendices be agreed; and

2.         That the timings for the price increases to be implemented as indicated in the report be agreed.

REASON FOR DECISION:

Securing revenue in line with the Medium Term Financial Strategy remains vital to balancing the budget annually in order to support all of the services provided by the Council.

Jane Fineman, Head of Finance and Procurement introduced this report to agree the fees and charges and agree the timings for the implementation of price increases and included the following:

-       The Report sets Fees and Charges for 2020/21 and the delivery of a budgetary income of £6.5m.

-       All income streams were covered except property rents and licencing income.  It also excluded parking fees which were assumed to remain unchanged next year.  The exception to this was a proposal to amend the discount for pay by phone purchases.

-       The Report also included a review of forecast sales volume and usages for 2021, which when multiplied by the prices proposed created the servicing income budgets for the next year. 

-       The medium term financial strategy assumed an increase of 3% for 2021. And this report achieved this with a surplus of £234,550 which would help fund Government grant reductions and inflation. 

-       The dates and details of when the price changes would take effect were detailed in the report.

-       The number of residents who had signed up to the new garden waste collection service had exceed expectations.  The budget was now set at 20,152 subscribers – the actual number as at the time of the report.  This was significantly above the anticipated 12,046 last year.  The income would be used to mitigate against the expected reduction in New Homes Bonus.

-       Government had indicated that they intended to make the income for Land Charges Searches themselves but the Council would retain responsibility for providing the data.  Government would need to give the Council notice of their intention to implement, which to date they had not done.  As such another year of income had been included in the Fees and Charges budget.

-       The report included a proposal to reduce the discount to customers who paid by phone at car parks from 40p to 20p.  The discount was in recognition of a 20p administrative charge that had been applied and as an incentive to use this method of payment.  The new contractor did not include an administrative charge so this element would be removed.  The remaining 20p incentive would be retained.  The net discount to the customer remained the same.

-       The ultimate aim was to encourage customers  to use the cheaper and electronic forms of payment. 

-       The Crematorium fees had been repackaged to make it clearer for customers.  The repackaging  had resulted in the price increase looking high – this was not the case, the overall increase was 4.6%.

-       The Go-Card was still in operation at the Theatre which also included the Ice Rink.  This incentive was a plus as it encouraged activity at an affordable level. 

-       Electric charging points were currently only available in the Crescent Road and Great Hall car parks.  It was the Council’s intention to install charging points in all car parks. 

-       At present there was no charge for the electricity used at the charging points but this was under  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93

To consider and provide a recommendation to Cabinet on the proposals set out in the attached report

Jane Fineman, Head of Finance and Procurement introduced this report to agree the fees and charges and agree the timings for the implementation of price increases and included the following:

-       The Report set Fees and Charges for 2020/21 and delivery of a budgetary income of £6.5m.

-       The Report covered all income streams for products and services, except property rents and licencing income.  It also excluded parking fees as these were assumed to remain unchanged next year (except the pay by phone discount).

-       It also provided a complete review of forecast sales volume and usages for 2021 – which created the servicing income budgets for the following year.

-       The Medium Term Financial Strategy assumed a 3% increase which was achieved, with a surplus of £234,550 which would help fund Government Grant Reductions and Inflation.

-       The number of residents who had signed up to the new garden waste collection service had exceeded expectations.  The budget was now set at 20,152 subscribers – the actual number who had signed up at the time of this Report.  This was significantly above the anticipated 12,046 last year.  This income would be used to mitigate against the expected reduction in the New Homes Bonus.

-       Government had indicated they intended to take the income from Land Charge Services, but to date this had not been done and notice would be required if the intention was proceed.  Until such time another year of income had been included in the Fees and Charges Budget (approximately £72,000).

-       A proposal to reduce the discount to customers who paid by phone at car parks, from 40p to 20p.  This was as a result of the administration charge being removed by the new contractor.  As such there remained a 20p discount to customers who used this method of payment.

Discussion and responses to members questions included the following matters:

-       The level of the Camden Centre occupancy would be forwarded following the meeting.

-       The 20p did appear to be an incentive to pay electronically. The take up of the pay by phone had been good, currently at 39% (from 33% in 2018). 

-       If the lower incentive amount made no difference to the take up rate, there might be a case to remove the discount altogether. Too early to make that decision now, but it might be something to consider at a later date.

-       It was hoped that by the end of next year it would be possible to make credit card payments at all car parks.  If the evidence suggested that this was the preferred method of payment, it might be appropriate to remove the 20p incentive for phone payments. 

-       The aim ultimately was to provide sufficient alternative methods of payments thereby discouraging and reducing cash payments. 

-       To make it clearer for the customer, Cremation charges that had previously been priced individually, were now packaged together.  This meant the percentage increase from last year looked high.  This was not the case.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62