Issue - meetings

Report of Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer)

Purpose of report

This report is to provide information to the Committee on proposed Fees and Charges as compared to some other districts to feed back to the Executive as part of the 2026/27 Budget and Business Planning Process.

Recommendations

The Budget Planning Committee resolves:

1.1         To note the benchmarking information between the council’s fees and charges and those of other Oxfordshire districts.

1.2         To recommend any changes to the fees and charges schedule to Executive when considering the budget.

Resolved

(1)  That the benchmarking information between the council’s fees and charges and those of other Oxfordshire districts be noted.

(2)  That, having given due consideration, the Executive be advised that the Budget Planning Committee have no recommended changes to the fees and charges schedule.

The Assistant Director of Finance (S151 Officer) submitted a report to provide information to the Committee on proposed Fees and Charges as compared to some other districts to feed back to the Executive as part of the 2026/27 Budget and Business Planning Process.

In response to a question on the proposed percentage increase for table and chairs consent, the Head of Regulatory Servies and Community Safety advised that a consultation was underway on the new Policy, including the fees. The Leader of the Council confirmed that he would ask the Portfolio Holder would investigate further with officers. The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Regeneration and Property subsequently clarified that the higher uplift was a result of calculating differently, 

In response to a comment from the Committee that the proposed car parking fee increase was above inflation (CPI)  and query if consideration could be given to providing  free parking for up to two hours in council operated car parks, in particular in Bicester, potentially through money earmarked for the market square project, the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Property and Regeneration advised that the market square funding was fairly specific but undertook to look into the matter. The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Property and Regeneration highlighted that two hours free parking was already available at the Sainsburys car park for in Bicester.  Executive would nonetheless consider consultation responses in respect of this, however should any action be taken, there would be an impact on other services as funds would need to be founds.

It was proposed by Councillor Sibley and seconded by Councillor Wood that the Executive be requested to give consideration to reducing the proposed increase in car parking fees. On being put to the vote, the motion was lost and subsequently fell.