Jahur Ali, Recreation and Leisure Services Manager, presented the report. The Appendix shown in the agenda had set out the fees and charges in relation to services within the remit of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee from the Environment and Highways directorate. The fees and charges in relation to services within the remit of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee from the Place directorate had been omitted from the agenda to which Jahur Ali stated there had been a few increases and would provide details. The fees and charges that were charged fell into three categories – statutory – regulatory and discretionary. There was one increase within the statutory area which was the COMAH emergency planning charge which had three charges in that area. Two of those charges were being recommended for removal and the remaining charge to be increased to allow re-charges to cover the staff member costs who undertaking that service.

There were 74 increases within the discretionary charge related to services the Council provided. The anticipation would be to make sure that all discretionary services broke even and became cost neutral. Members were referred to the following areas of interest - outdoor sports and open spaces – with proposals to increase the fees and charges between 4% and 5%. This was one area that was not cost neutral at this time but a lot of work was being undertaken to try and reduce those costs with it potentially taking Thurrock three years to become cost neutral in those areas. Other areas to have small increases were allotments from 4% between £2.50 and £5.00 and burials with a 1% to 3% increase between £2 and £56. There were other areas that were statutory charges which had been set by government legislation. That out of the 551 items within this overview and scrutiny remit only 75 had been increased with the overall majority of the charges not changing. 

These charges would take effect from the 5 April 2021 unless otherwise stated. In preparing the proposed fees and charges, directorates had worked within the charging framework and commercial principles set out in Section three of the report. Also taken into account was the effect that Covid-19 had and would continue to have on services, residents and the local economy.

Councillor Redsell questioned the proposed increase in burials to which Jahur Ali stated this had been increased in line with inflation and that a benchmark exercise had been undertaken with neighbouring boroughs and Thurrock was in line with those. Councillor Redsell stated that she felt this increase was inappropriate at this time.

Councillor Fletcher questioned whether the members of the committee this evening were being expected to note or challenge the report. Jahur Ali confirmed that the fees and charges were being presented to members this evening and Daren Spring stated this was part of the committee’s role to scrutinise the report and to comment accordingly.

Councillor J Kent agreed that all would like to see cost neutral if possible but stated he could not agree those above inflation increases. That the Council should be encouraging sport, exercise and healthy activities not making it more difficult by increasing the charges.

Jahur Ali mentioned the support for sports clubs and groups provided by the Council. Over £50,000 had been secured for local clubs and were supported to apply to Sport England, ECB grants and other discretionary grants to which Councillor Redsell confirmed clubs mentioned had received support.

Members had a discussion on recommendation 2 in regards to the director delegated authority being sought via Cabinet to allow Fees and Charges to be varied within a financial year in response to commercial requirements. Members stated their disagreement with this and agreed the recommendation should be refused and reworded.

Jahur Ali confirmed that any new charges being brought in would need to follow the process of being presented at this committee. The director delegated authority was for charges that happened in year and for these items that needed urgent decision.

The Chair referred Members to the recommendations to which Members agreed to recommendation 1 and disagreed with recommendation 2 and have therefore reworded to reflect their comments.

RESOLVED

1.         That Cleaner, Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee noted the revised fees, including those no longer applicable; and comment on the proposals currently being considered within the remit of this committee.

2.         That Cleaner, Greener and Safer Overview and Scrutiny Committee noted that director delegated authority would be sought via Cabinet to allow Fees and Charges to be varied within a financial year in response to commercial requirements. The Cleaner Greener and Safer Committee considered this recommendation and ask Cabinet to refuse this recommendation as the committee were not in agreement.