Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Jean Hamilton, Martin McCarthy and Joe Tildesley.

To receive declarations of Members disclosable pecuniary interests and conflicts of interest.

There were no declarations of pecuniary or conflicts of interest from Members.

To answer any questions, if any, asked by any resident of the Borough pursuant to Standing Orders.

No questions or deputations received.

To approve a proposed increase to licensing fees chargeable for licensing functions, subject to the statutory advertising requirements being satisfied.

PROPOSED LICENSING FEES AND CHARGES 2023/24

The Council’s Licensing Officer asked Members to approve a proposed increase to licensing fees chargeable for licensing functions subject to statutory advertising requirements being satisfied.

Members were informed that fees and charges are set to ensure full cost recovery of delivering the service, in line with legislation, to avoid the need to subsidise from other Council funding. With the exception of statutory fees under the Licensing Act 2003 and Gambling Act 2005, and some set within statutory parameters, increases reflect additional costs of staffing, energy, material, and other on-costs.

Income is ring fenced within licensing, meaning that fees should be set at a level to avoid any unnecessary surplus or deficit, and reviewed regularly to ensure that remains the case.

The proposed fees and charges increases related to matters of Taxi licensing, Animal licensing, Sex Shops and Sex Entertainment Venues, and Street Trading.

RESOLVED

Members approved the fees and charges, as detailed in Appendix A to the report, with effect from 1 April 2023, for advertising in accordance with the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. Following the statutory advertising period, the fees and charges automatically come into force on the given date if no objections have been received. Any objections received will be referred to Members for consideration in accordance with the legislation.