Issue - meetings

1.              To approve the Fees and Charges set out in the schedule at Appendix 1 to be effective from 13 January 2025;

2.              To approve the Fees and Charges set out in the schedule at Appendix 2 to be effective from 1 April 2025;

3.              To approve the Fees and Charges set out in the schedule at Appendix 3 to be effective from 1 April 2025;

4.              To approve the Fees and Charges set out in the schedule at Appendix 4 to be effective from 1 April 2025.

Councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst moved the amended recommendation, seconded by Councillor Sarah Nelmes as follows:

1. Council is recommended to approve the Fees and Charges set out in the schedule at Appendix 1 to be effective from 13 January 2025 but that officers are instructed to research and provide a further report to the Policy and Resources Committee on FPNs in relation to Section 33 Environmental Protection Act, Fly Tipping, Domestic Duty of Care, and Depositing Litter when those Fees may be reconsidered. This to include consideration of sliding fee scales up to the maximum permitted, whilst noting the Council under its current practice will proceed to prosecution without a FPN on incidences of tipper load dumping of waste.
2. Council is recommended to approve the Fees and Charges set out in the schedule at Appendix 2 to be effective from 1 April 2025
3. Council is recommended to approve the Fees and Charges set out in the schedule at Appendix 3 to be effective from 1 April 2025
4. Council is recommended to approve the Fees and Charges set out in the schedule at Appendix 4 to be effective from 1 April 2025

Councillor Chris Lloyd proposed to move to a vote without further debate, seconded by Councillor Louise Price.

The Chair stated that Councill will now vote on the motion.

On being put to the Council the motion was declared CARRIED by the Chair of Council, the voting being 25 For, 0 Against, 11 Abstention.

In response to a question raised regarding a potential amendment, the Chief Executive explained that the motion had been received before any amendments could be considered and the motion was seconded, leading to a vote being called.

RESOLVED:

1.     To approve the Fees and Charges set out in the schedule at Appendix 1 to be effective from 13 January 2025;

2.     To approve the Fees and Charges set out in the schedule at Appendix 2 to be effective from 1 April 2025;

3.     To approve the Fees and Charges set out in the schedule at Appendix 3 to be effective from 1 April 2025;

4.     To approve the Fees and Charges set out in the schedule at Appendix 4 to be effective from 1 April 2025.

This report presents a schedule of proposed fees and charges effective from 13 January 2025 (set out in Appendix 1) and a schedule of fees and charges effective from 1 April 2025 (set out in Appendices 2, 3 and 4).

Recommendation:

That Policy & Resources Committee recommends to Full Council:

1.          To approve the Fees and Charges set out in the schedule at Appendix 1 to be effective from 13 January 2025;

2.          To approve the Fees and Charges set out in the schedule at Appendix 2 to be effective from 1 April 2025;

3.          To approve the Fees and Charges set out in the schedule at Appendix 3 to be effective from 1 April 2025;

4.          To approve the Fees and Charges set out in the schedule at Appendix 4 to be effective from 1 April 2025.

Alison Scott, Director of Finance, introduced the report.

In response to questions, officers confirmed that there were no changes proposed to services and so the report did not outline any environmental implications, but that the council’s environmental strategy had been considered in preparing the proposals.

The committee discussed the proposals for increases for fines for fly tipping, noting that officers’ advice was that setting fines at the highest level allowable in law would lead to the council being taken to court to challenge such fines. The committee discussed the likelihood of offenders being caught, the likelihood of court challenges being successful, and the possibility of introducing a tiered system of fines.

Councillor Oliver Cooper moved an amendment to the recommendations, seconded by Councillor Andrea Fraser, such that the fixed penalty notice rates for fly-tipping be set at the legal maximum. Following debate, Councillor Oliver Cooper withdrew the amendment.

The Leader proposed that a meeting be convened between the Lead Member, Associate Director for Environment, and the leaders of the political groups to discuss the charges for fly-tipping and, as required, a sliding or other scale be introduced if felt applicable.

The committee debated the proposed increases for hire rates for Leavesden HIVE, noting that the percentage increase for the community rates being higher than the commercial rate was to ensure the difference in rates did not grow over time. The committee further discussed the rates differences between commercial and community rates at Watersmeet Theatre.

Councillor Philip Hearn moved an amendment to the recommendations, seconded by Councillor Oliver Cooper, such that 35 spaces at The Ferry Car Park be available at a rate of £4 per day. Officers confirmed that the council’s fees and charges could be amended at any point during the fiscal year, and that there was scope for a report setting out such a proposal to be brought forward at pace. In response to a question, the Leader of the Council committed to a report on these proposals being brought forward early in the new year, and that any decision would be taken following consultation with residents and parishes. The amendment was subsequently withdrawn.

The committee discussed the charges for pre-application advice for both planning and licensing, both in terms of the structure and how these compared to neighbouring authorities, noting officers’ advice was that pre-application advice fees for planning applications needed to be set at a rate which did not lead to applicants submitting planning applications directly and not using the pre-application process.

Councillor Oliver Cooper moved an amendment to the recommendations such that the pavement licence fee be halved to £250. The amendment was not seconded. In debate, the committee discussed proposals for pavement licensing, with the committee agreeing that a report on pavement licensing options be brought to the Licensing Committee for further consideration.

The committee welcomed the continued practice of not charging for the burial of children in council-owned cemeteries.

RESOLVED:

That Policy & Resources Committee recommends to Full Council:

1. To approve the Fees and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4