Issue - decisions

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report seeking member approval on proposals to increase this Committee’s fees and charges with effect from 1 April 2025. The proposals were the first stage in the review of the Committee’s budget for the forthcoming 2025/26 financial year.

Service committees were asked at this time of year to review their fees and charges in order to achieve an overall increase in budgeted income of 2.5%, as assumed in the Council’s Budget Forecast. The proposed list of fees and charges for this Committee’s services for implementation from 1 April 2025 were attached to the report. The proposed fees and charges were based on a review undertaken by Financial Services, Heads of Service and budget holders. If Committee agreed to the proposed fees and charges for implementation from 1 April 2025 then budgeted income for this Committee’s fees and charges would increase in 2025/26 by 2.61%.

It was noted that following a recent change in VAT guidance by HMRC on the provision of leisure services by Local Authorities, the Council was now able to classify several of its leisure services as ‘non-business’ and charge for these services without the addition of VAT. In respect of fees and charges, the affected leisure fees where VAT was previously included have stayed at the same level for customers in 2024/25.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE

Approve the 2025/26 fees and charges proposed for this Committee as attached to the report, for implementation from 1 April 2025.