That:

1)            the schedule of fees and charges, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be approved to be effective from the dates listed on the schedule;

2)            Wokingham’s discretionary fees and charges for the Public Protection Partnership be approved and the statutory charges be noted, as set out in Appendix B, effective from 1 April 2021;

3)            an ongoing policy of free Saturday car parking in Council car parks during the run up to Christmas in December, this year being Saturday the 5^th, 12^th and 19^th December, supported by a supplementary estimate of up to £20k be approved.

The Executive considered a report setting out the proposed fees and charges for Council services, including those for the Wokingham element of the Public Protection Partnership. 

The Executive Member for Finance and Housing introduced the report, the purpose of which was to ensure that appropriate fees and charges were levied for each service, and highlighted that most of the charges would be enacted from 1 December 2020.  However sports, cemeteries, housing, training course and youth and community charges would take effect from 1 January 2021 (sports) and 1 April 2021 respectively.

In response to a question about the new artificial cricket pitch and nets at Cantley Park the Executive Member for Environment and Leisure confirmed that private cricket clubs, schools and the public would be able to use these facilities and several enquiries had already been received.

Following a query by Councillor Kaiser, about why some of the sports and leisure charges had increased by a higher percentage than other charges, Councillor Batth explained that these charges had not been increased for some time and due to the current financial pressures caused by Covid it was felt that they should be brought into line with many other local authorities. Councillor Batth confirmed that benchmarking had taken place to ensure that these charges remained competitive and despite the increase they were still the cheapest when compared with the benchmarked authorities.

In order to support the community and businesses after the devastating impact on the livelihoods of those and the people who worked for them Councillor Kaiser proposed that an additional recommendation be added which would agree an ongoing policy of free Saturday car parking in the Council’s car parks during the run up to Christmas in December.  This year being Saturday 5^th, 12^th and 19^th December which would be supported by a supplementary estimate of up to £20k.  This would help both residents and business owners alike at this very difficult time.  This additional recommendation was supported.

RESOLVED that:

1)            the schedule of fees and charges, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be approved to be effective from the dates listed on the schedule;

2)            Wokingham’s discretionary fees and charges for the Public Protection Partnership be approved and the statutory charges be noted, as set out in Appendix B, effective from 1 April 2021;

3)            an ongoing policy of free Saturday car parking in Council car parks during the run up to Christmas in December, this year being Saturday the 5^th, 12^th and 19^th December supported by a supplementary estimate of up to £20k be approved.