Issue details

Increases to fees and charges in Environmental Health.  Some on a full cost recovery basis and introduction of a new charge.

With particular reference to Private Water Supplies Fees and a new charge for the attendance at a food safety workshop, Steps to Success.

All fees and charges have been reviewed in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.  A full cost recovery review has been undertaken of all Environmental Health fees and charges.  This review has identified that whilst fees have increased, over time, the fees for a number activities have remained below the costs of operating the service, due to increases in staff costs; inflation etc.  Therefore, the fees have been fully reviewed and increases, above inflation, have been identified as being necessary for a number of the fees (see attached Environmental Health Fees and Charges 2024/25 document, which identifies the monetary and percentage increases associated with the fees).  For some fees, the increases are significant.

These increases are necessary to ensure the continued delivery of statutory services, for which fees can be charged and/or ancillary services provided to support businesses/residents.  With budget pressures, the increases need to be passed on to the service users as it is not appropriate to subsidise these activities.