Lead Member – Mr Mike Owen, Portfolio Holder for Resources, Finance and Support.

Report of the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) is attached marked 10.

Contact – James Walton (01743 255011)

(a)   That it be recommended to Council that the Council Charging Policy as detailed in Appendix A of the report be approved.

(b)  That it be recommended to Council that the following proposed officer delegations be approved:

Where, in exceptional circumstances, it is necessary to amend fees and charges within a year from that agreed by full Council and any such amendments follow the principles set out in the approved charging policy, Directors in consultation with the appropriate Portfolio Holder for the service where fees and charges are being amended will have delegated authority to agree these changes subject to:

·         Any changes to the levels of fees and charges including the introduction of new charges resulting in a budget adjustment must be approved in line with the Council’s Virement rules (financial size).

10.1    The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Resources and Support presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) – copy attached to the signed minutes – on a proposed charging policy to be followed when setting fees and charges in future.  The report recommended officer delegations, in consultation with portfolio holders, to allow in year changes to fees and charges to be agreed and implemented in a speedy manner.

10.2    During the ensuing discussion a Member expressed concern that the proposals would take away the balance of power to make charging decisions from Cabinet and Council in favour of officers and the portfolio holders albeit he acknowledged that there might be certain circumstances when such action was necessary.  He also referred to the fees and charges introduced at the new museum and art gallery in Shrewsbury and asked that these be reviewed as soon as possible in order to encourage all, particularly residents of Shropshire, to visit the facility.  In turn the Portfolio Holder for Business Growth, ip&e and Commissioning (North) referred to the financial challenges facing the Council over the next few years and commented on the large body of evidence which showed that free entry together with donation boxes did not generate the same amount of income as received through charging for entry.  In response to further concerns expressed about the change in decision making the Leader emphasised that Council would continue to approve the schedule of fees and charges on an annual basis and that it would only be in the interim period that officers would be authorised to make changes to ensure revisions could be implemented without delay.

10.3RESOLVED:

(a)  That it be recommended to Council that the Council Charging Policy as detailed in Appendix A of the report be approved.

(b)  That it be recommended to Council that the following proposed officer delegations be approved:

Where, in exceptional circumstances, it is necessary to amend fees and charges within a year from that agreed by full Council and any such amendments follow the principles set out in the approved charging policy, Directors in consultation with the appropriate Portfolio Holder for the service where fees and charges are being amended will have delegated authority to agree these changes subject to:

·         Any changes to the levels of fees and charges including the introduction of new charges resulting in a budget adjustment must be approved in line with the Council’s Virement rules (financial size).