Issue - items at meetings - Fees and Charges 2024/25

Lead Member – Councillor Gwilym Butler – Portfolio Holder for Finance, Corporate Resources and Communities

Report of James Walton – Executive Director of Resources

REPORT TO FOLLOW

RESOLVED:

1. Cabinet members agreed and recommended to full Council the recommendations below:

To note the breakdown of the total income for 2023/24 and 2024/25 and in particular that the proposed 2024/25 charges for discretionary services represent £52.822m of the £98.525m of income derived from Fees and Charges.

2. To approve the charges for 2024/25 as detailed in Appendix 3 to be implemented from 1 April 2024.

3. To note that as previously agreed, any changes to fees and charges proposed by Shropshire Community Leisure Trust Ltd. in relation to the outsourced leisure facilities will only be referred to Cabinet and Council for approval if the proposed increases exceed Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the preceding November.

4. To note that the proposals to increase car parking fees and charges (arising from the traffic management policies and strategies of the Council) further to the recent decision of Cabinet has been called in for further scrutiny by Councillors. This report does not supersede the call in process; rather, the outcome of the call in process will determine the eventual charges to be levied in 2024/25.

5. To note that proposals in adult social care services for applying charges for telecare services and appointeeships are new proposals and will require further discussion and consultation. Proposed charges will be set on a ‘cost recovery’ basis, in line with best practice in other councils.

6. To revise housing rents as follows (subject to restrictions or exemptions identified in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill):

I. Social Housing rents for 2024/25 are increased by 7.7% from 3rd April 2024.

II. Affordable rents for 2024/25 are increased by 7.7% from 3rd April 2024.

III. Shared Ownership rents continue to be set at 2.75% of the outstanding capital value of the home at the time of sale and thereafter increased each April in accordance with the terms specified in the lease agreements.

IV. All accommodation charges for 2024/25 are increased by 7.7% from 3rd April 2024.

V. Service charges continue to be set on the basis of actual cost

7. To review the total estimated income from different fees and charges items, to identify which items generate the most income, and to consider whether the benchmarking already undertaken for those sources of income is placing the council in the upper quartile for charges, based on comparison with similar local authorities. This will help ensure that we protect staff by maximizing income.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Corporate Resources and Communities presented the report which showed the budgeted income to be received and proposed the level of fees and charges to be applied by Shropshire Council in 2024/25.

Members noted that the fees and charges represent £86.863m of planned income in 2023/24 and are proposed to increase to £98.525m in 2024/25 (an overall 12.6% increase).

It was felt that any increase in car parking charges should be kept in line with other services. Members noted that this was being referred back to Cabinet at a future meeting following a recent call-in.