Issue - meetings

That the fees and charges proposed to apply from 1 April 2026, as set out in Appendix 1 and 3, be approved.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centre’s and Growth introduced a report seeking approval for the proposed scale of fees and charges applying from 1 April, 2026.

The proposed fees and charges were set out at Appendix 1 of the report.

Councillor Fox-Hewitt had requested to ask a question.  He noted within the report that there were increases in costs for football/rugby pitch hire, bowls, swimming pool hire, the gym in J2 membership and educational sessions at the Museum.  At the same time there were no increases in costs for licences in connection with gambling premises or licensed premises.

Given that one of the core objectives of the Council was for a green and healthy Borough, there was an opportunity for the Council to move some of the revenue raising required onto other areas that would enable healthy activities to remain much more accessible and affordable for all ages, thus promoting health and wellbeing.

Councillor Sweeney stated that the Council was unable to amend nationally set charges such as licensing or betting.  In relation to sports charges, tennis booking fees had recently been introduced and the Council was seeking to keep at an affordable level.  The charges were in line with the Council’s policy, reflecting both the level of use and the fact that team games could be split across a larger number of players.

The Leader invited Councillor Fox-Hewitt to meet with the Portfolio Holder and Finance officer if he wished, to discuss the sports fees before the item was taken to the Finance, Assets and Performance Scrutiny Committee for consideration.

Resolved:    That the fees and charges proposed to apply from 1 April 2026,

as set out in Appendix 1 and 3, be approved.

Watch the debate here