Service fees look set for 2020 increase
Short term reprieve ensured
STEPHEN BARK
Proposals to increase charges to some council services by 2.8 per cent have been withdrawn by the council.
That comes after pressure from opposition councillors.
The increase would have allowed South Lanakrshire Council to continue to meet the cost of providing services covered by the charging policy, and would have affected charges for social care and parking.
The local authority’s executive committee heard earlier this month how the proposed increase would follow a pattern established last year.
But, the leaders of the Labour and Independent groups – Councillors Joe Fagan and Margaret Cooper – asked for the proposals to be deferred so they could be considered as part of the wider budget process.
Executive director for financial resources Paul Manning told the committee: “The report on the charging policy states ‘every year, each existing charge will be subject to an inflationary increase’.
“A 2.8 per cent inflationary increase would be added to all the charges detailed on the charging policy which the council can influence.
“The increase across all other charges would result in an increase in income of approximately £300,000.”
Charges for allotment holders would also have been amended by the proposals in order to bring all allotments into line following the approval of new charging arrangements in January.
That would mean an average increase of 47p per week or £24.44 per year. The maximum increase would been 70p per week – £36.40 per year.
Councillor Fagan questioned if now was “really an appropriate time” to consider the charging policy as an awareness session on currently confidential savings proposal was due to take place.
He said: “I think the information in the charging papers is useful.
“I do think there is merit in revisiting this later in the budget process.
“I propose we revisit the paper later in the budget process rather than ask the executive committee to decide today.”
Mr Manning added that a savings package had been issued and that by taking a decision on the charging policy first, the council would be following the same process as last year.
Councillor Cooper added: “I’d agree with most of what Councillor Fagan said. I would prefer this paper was for noting at the moment.”
Deputy leader of the Labour group, Councillor Gerry Convery felt the “sequence was wrong” as the charging report should not be considered before the awareness session.
A consensus was reached and the paper was withdrawn. An increase to council charges may still be introduced as part of the budget next year.