Sex shop cost increases
Fees get a price hike
Council chiefs have slapped an increase on sex shops – as the application fees to operate them has risen by £20.
The increase was agreed after papers went before a South Lanarkshire finance committee last Wednesday.
It will now cost £672 to apply for a sex shop licence, up from £652.
The council’s website states: “If your business sells sex articles, toys, books or videos you need a sex shop licence.”
South Lanarkshire Council are set to increase the price of various licences, for the first time in three years. Taxi drivers, street traders, metal dealers, window cleaners and tattooists will all be hit by the increase, which is expected to come into affect on January 1, 2018.
Officers say with inflation increasing, a price rise is needed.
A report to councillors states: “As a result of previously low inflation rate, the fees have not been increased since 2015.
“Inflation is now increasing and in order to ensure the council’s costs are recovered, it is necessary to increase the fees at this time.
“The proposed revised fees represent an approximate increase of three per cent in line with inflation.
“Some fees have been realigned to reflect increased costs from suppliers for items such as taxi/private hire plates.
“In addition, a number of premises’ application relating to variations and temporary applications have had the percentage of the application fee realigned to reflect the actual work carried out.”
And the report continues: “Although there is expected to be an increase in revenue of approximately £11,615,94 per annum, this is required to ensure the costs of the service are recovered. It is anticipated that a further increase will be required on an annual basis to ensure full cost recovery.”
Taxi licenses will increase from £377 to £388 while private hire licences will be £381, up from £370.
The cost of a replacement door sticker will rise to £15 from £10, while replacement plates will soon rise from £20 to £25.
Knife dealers (up from £329 £339) and metal dealers (£228 £235) will also be affected.
A public entertainment licence will rise from £267 to £275. Fairs, late hours catering, indoor sports entertainment, second-hand dealers, wheelie bin cleaners and market operators will all see the cost of a fee rise. to to