Council agrees fees and charges for 2013-1

Councillors have agreed the fees and charges for council run services over the next twelve months.

The fees were agreed at a meeting of the full Council last night (Thursday 6 December) and will come into effect from 1 April 2013.

They reflect a 3% increase across most services, in line with inflation.

It is proposed to increase the charges for visiting leisure craft to the Marina by 10% to reflect the significant improvements made at the Harbour, whilst still being competitive.

No changes are proposed at this stage for car parking as the service is undergoing a major review.

It’s estimated that the proposed fees and charges will generate additional income of £197,700 in 2013/14 which has been factored into the draft budget proposals.

The council charges for some of the services it provides, which means that the people who use individual services help to pay for what they receive. This includes environmental and licensing services, planning, building control, the Harbour at Broadstairs, Margate and Ramsgate, bereavement and parking.

Cabinet Member for Financial Services, Cllr Rick Everitt, said: “We’ve worked hard to ensure that the fees in place for the next 12 months are fair and for that reason, have kept this in line with inflation where we can.

“In the current climate we have to ensure that our services are operating as efficiently as possible. In order to do this, and factoring in the major cuts in funding we’re seeing, we have to ensure that our finances add up.

“Charging customers for specific services that they access, means that the income raised can be used to ensure the service can continue and also means that we don’t have to look at passing this on to the Council Tax payer.”