Issue - meetings

The Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources, Councillor B A Mickelburgh to present a report regarding Discretionary Charges in Planning, Infrastructure and Public Protection.

(The report was considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth) and the Cabinet at their meetings in June 2025. The Cabinet endorsed the recommendations).

To consider a report outlining a strategic proposal to review and enhance discretionary Charges in Planning, Infrastructure and Public Protection, focusing on enhancing service delivery, covering rising operational costs, reacting to national government changes and ensuring the sustainability of the services

Executive Councillor: B Mickelburgh

The Cabinet has noted the contents of the report.

Additionally, the Cabinet has recommended to Council

(a)  that the review of Discretionary Charges within Planning, Infrastructure and Public Protection be endorsed, and authority be delegated to the Head of Planning, Infrastructure and Public Protection, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and Executive Councillor for Finance & Resources, to implement changes; and

(b)  that authority be delegated to the Head of Planning, Infrastructure and Public Protection, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and Executive Councillor for Finance & Resources, to undertake the following, for the current financial year:

  i.  Introduction of new fees

  ii.  Modification of existing fees

  iii.  Updating/adjusting of fees

  iv.  Waiving of fees

A report by the Head of Planning, Infrastructure & Public Protection was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) explaining the reasons for reviewing and implementing changes to discretionary Charges in Planning, Infrastructure and Public Protection, focusing on enhancing service delivery, covering rising operational costs, reacting to national government changes and ensuring the sustainability of the services

In setting out the report, the Executive Councillor for Finance & Resources referred to the comments made by the Overview & Scrutiny Panel (Performance & Growth), particularly in relation to their concerns regarding the wording of recommendation B. He noted that the Panel were widely in favour of the proposal but agreed with their recommendation that the wording of recommendation B needed to clarify that the delegated authority would be until the end of the current financial year. However, with regards to the Panel’s recommendation to extend the delegation to the Shadow Executive Councillors for Planning & Finance, he commented that this was not something recognised by the Constitution. As such, he was nervous about acknowledging that which did not exist Constitutionally. Although he had no problem with Councillors keeping an eye on the governance checks and balances, proceeding via the method of involving Shadow Cabinet within that delegation was not accepted.

Similarly, the Executive Councillor for Economy, Regeneration and Housing agreed and stated that informal discussions or briefings behind the scenes in the usual way would give Scrutiny colleagues some reassurance.

A question was raised by the Executive Councillor for Climate, Transformation and Workforce regarding whether the views of developers had been sought with regards to the charges proposed to be introduced. Furthermore, she asked that if the approval was for one year, whether there would opportunity after that to go back again to developers to gauge their thoughts.

In response, the Executive Councillor for Planning was happy to take that back to the Planning Department to seek clarification. The Executive Councillor for Finance & Resources stated that this would fall into the normal Fees and Charges schedule, and during the course of the normal budget round, if there were lots of pushback or concerns, although this was unlikely, they would appear in the Fees and Charges.

The Cabinet agreed that the wording of recommendation B in the report should be amended to reflect that the delegated authority was for the current financial year, and it was

RESOLVED

(a)  the contents of the report be noted;

(b)  that the Council be recommended to approve the review of Discretionary Charges within Planning, Infrastructure and Public Protection, and authority be delegated to the Head of Planning, Infrastructure and Public Protection, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and Executive Councillor for Finance & Resources, to implement changes; and

(c)  that the Council be recommended to delegate authority to the Head of Planning, Infrastructure and Public Protection, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and Executive Councillor for Finance & Resources, to undertake the following, for the current financial year

  i.  Introduction of new fees.

  ii.  Modification of existing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15