Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report of the Head of Finance and Investment.

The Head of Finance and Investment presented the report on Fees and Charges 2025/26.

Members raised the following matters:

·         To enquire what changes were likely to be made following the decision of the Cabinet to defer a decision on the proposals for community organised non-profit events as part of the report on the Review of Parking Bay Suspension Charges. Members were advised that following a review of the matter, no recommendations for significant changes were expected to be made to the Cabinet.

·         Councillor M Bates identified an error in the report that he had raised before the meeting with the Head of Finance and Investment. It was stated that this would be clarified.

·         To enquire if residents in Kingsdown would be able to in instalments for the increase in charges for beach huts. It was stated that this would need to be clarified with the Head of Property Assets.

·         To seek assurance that problems in paying for boat plots highlighted by a constituent would be resolved.

·         To ask for clarification in respect of charges for beach huts and boat plots in the report for 2024/25 and 2025/26 as it was not clear and to point out that the figures on the Council’s website were out of date. The Head of Finance and Investment advised that the figures in the spreadsheet would undergo a final review and that she would check with the Head of Property Assets. If required, an amendment could be made through a decision notice.

·         To ask for residents permits to be reviewed for next year. In response it was stated that this would be reviewed.

·         To enquire how much revenue the Council would have received from operations at Bastion. It was stated that this would be a matter for the Head of Port Health and Public Protection.

·         To ask whether amendments to high hedges in the report would be in 2024/25 or 2025/26. It was stated that the amendments were for 2025/26.

It was moved by Councillor M Bates, duly seconded by Councillor S H Beer, that a report be submitted to Overview and Scrutiny Committee to provide clarification in relation to beach hut plot and boat plot charges and payment arrangements for them.

It was moved by Councillor S H Beer, duly seconded by Councillor J P Loffman, and

RESOLVED:   (a)     That the report be accepted.

                        (b)     That a report be submitted to Overview and Scrutiny Committee to provide clarification in relation to beach hut plot and boat plot charges and payment arrangements for them.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Finance and Investment.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance, Climate Change and Environment

It was agreed:

(a) That the Fees and Charges (F&Cs) for 2025/26, as set out in Appendices 1.1 to 2.14 (except for the Section 106 Monitoring Fee which has been approved by the Planning Committee) be approved.

(b) That any F&Cs will be adjusted by Directors, in consultation with the Portfolio Holders, to comply with any subsequently received government guidelines (when they are received) and any other minor changes made without being the subject of a further report unless they are materially different from current charges or have a material impact on the level of income.

(c)  That the Transport and Parking Services Manager, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property, be authorised to take all necessary legal and procedural processes to give effect to the agreed recommendations, as set out in Appendices 5a and 5b, including the giving of notices and the making or amendment of any orders under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and, also, the making of arrangements with the Dover Harbour Board pursuant to Section 33(4) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

(d) That the general principle that fees are set at an appropriate inclusive level, irrespective of VAT status, and that the VAT element within the overall fee level is then determined, be approved.

(e)  That the setting of fees and charges at the Council’s venues (including, but not limited to, Kearsney Café and Maison Dieu) be delegated to the Head of Place and Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community and Corporate Property.

(f) That the fees and charges approved separately by the Licensing and Regulatory Committees, as set out in Appendices 3.1 to 4.2, be noted.