Agenda item
Licensing Fees and Charges 2016-17
Minutes:
Councillor Fantham said he had spoken with R Hill prior to the meeting and was advised that the Council loses approximately £80k on delivering its licensing functions each year.
Councillor Peter asked why they couldn’t break even with the licensing fees. R Hill explained that they were restricted on the amount they could charge , as fees could not exceed the costs incurred in issuing a particular licence. Alcohol and entertainment licence fees were fixed nationally by the Government and were unchanged since 2005. He said the LGA had been campaigning on the issue, highlighting that the amount of money that was lost could be used towards paying for schools, nurses, carers etc. He advised there were also various other licensing functions they couldn’t charge for such as charitable collections, and enforcement not leading to a conviction.
Councillor Bassadone queried why so many charges had been reduced, for example a new dog breeding licence has gone down by 20.6%. R Hill explained they had revised the application forms so that more data could be collected at the point of application so the officers would spend a shorter length of time at inspections and that would reduce that cost to the council. He said they couldn’t set the fees at a profit level, they had to be set in accordance with the cost occurred to the council. He explained that the gap between new dog breeding applications and renewals had narrowed because they now involved similar amounts of work and the new fee reflected that much more than the previous fee.
Councillor Mills said he couldn’t understand why the fees were being reduced for dog breeding licences for example. He asked if the existing fees had caused any legal action. R Hill explained they had to review the fees every year and change some of the processing times where there could be a potential overcharge. He advised that they hadn’t had any new applications for dog breeding licences for several years, however they still have to look at their current procedures and they couldn’t justify keeping the fees the same. He said that fees had to be correctly calculated pre-emptively to avoid challenge.
Councillor Bassadone asked how many times they had been challenged in the last financial year. R Hill said there had been no challenges in that time.
Councillor Peter asked if Central Government were aware of this problem and if not, could they write to them to make them aware. R Hill advised that the issue was being raised frequently by the LGA and others. He said there was a Home Office consultation before the Parliamentary Election this year but unfortunately there was such a low response rate from councils. He said the Chief Executive had asked him to respond, however we were 1 of 20 authorities nationally to reply and therefore the Home Office decided that was insufficient evidence to justify further action at that time.
Councillor Mills felt they should continue charging the existing fees rather than reducing them if people were prepared to pay that amount before then they will continue to. R Hill said the licensees didn’t have a choice but to pay that amount as it was a set fee and if they didn’t pay it they wouldn’t be granted a licence. In reference to the gambling licence fees, he explained that this year they had been able to produce more accurate cost calculations by looking at similar licences, reviewing the policies and estimating the amount of work involved to give a better idea of how much each application would cost and calculate the fee that should be charged.
It was proposed by Councillor Peter and seconded by Councillor Conway to set the fees and charges at the levels proposed within the report.
Voting:
9 for and 1 against:
whereupon it was:
Resolved:
That the Licensing and Health and Safety Enforcement Committee set the fees and charges payable by applicants in connection with applications and other processes for licences, registrations and permits, for the period from 1st April 2016 to 31st March 2017, as set out below:
|
Item |
Current fee |
Proposed fee |
% change |
|||
|
1.1 General service charges |
||||||
|
Photocopies (per A4 side, at officers discretion, subject to legal restrictions) |
0.20 |
0.20 |
0.0% |
|||
|
Copy of interview recording following PACE interview (per tape/disc) |
15.00 |
15.00 |
0.0% |
|||
|
Copy of public register entry (where kept and made available by statute) (per entry) |
15.00 |
15.00 |
0.0% |
|||
|
Request for duplicate copy of licence following loss/theft/damage (where not otherwise listed) |
15.00 |
15.00 |
0.0% |
|||
|
Licensing pre-application advice (per whole or part hour) |
- |
42.00 |
|
|||
|
3.1 Animal boarding |
||||||
|
Application for new animal boarding establishment licence (up to 1yr) |
plus vet inspection |
320.00 |
287.00 |
-10.3% |
||
|
Application to renew animal boarding establishment licence (1yr) |
plus vet inspection |
220.00 |
237.00 |
7.7% |
||
|
Application to vary animal boarding establishment licence |
plus vet inspection |
145.00 |
145.00 |
0.0% |
||
|
Application for new animal boarding establishment licence (home boarding) (up to 1yr) |
180.00 |
193.00 |
7.2% |
|||
|
Application to renew animal boarding establishment licence (home boarding) (1yr) |
120.00 |
140.00 |
16.7% |
|||
|
Application to vary animal boarding establishment licence (home boarding) |
100.00 |
90.00 |
-10.0% |
|||
|
Veterinary inspection of premises |
Recharged at cost |
|||||
|
3.2 Dangerous wild animals |
||||||
|
Application for licence to keep dangerous wild animals (2yr) |
plus vet inspection |
325.00 |
302.00 |
-7.1% |
||
|
Application to renew licence to keep dangerous wild animals (2yr) |
plus vet inspection |
325.00 |
302.00 |
-7.1% |
||
|
Application to vary licence conditions (new species/increased numbers of animals) |
210.00 |
192.00 |
-8.6% |
|||
|
Application to vary licence conditions (administrative matters only) |
65.00 |
62.50 |
-3.8% |
|||
|
Veterinary inspection of premises |
Recharged at cost |
|||||
|
3.3 Dog breeding |
||||||
|
Application for new dog breeding licence (up to 1yr) |
252.00 |
200.00 |
-20.6% |
|||
|
Application to renew dog breeding licence (1yr) |
195.00 |
200.00 |
2.6% |
|||
|
Veterinary inspection of premises |
Recharged at cost |
|||||
|
3.4 Pet shops |
||||||
|
Application for new pet shop licence (up to 1yr) |
189.00 |
161.00 |
-14.8% |
|||
|
Application for new pet shop licence (fish only) (up to 1yr) |
142.00 |
161.00 |
13.4% |
|||
|
Application to renew pet shop licence (1yr) |
130.00 |
150.00 |
15.4% |
|||
|
Application to renew pet shop licence (fish only) (1yr) |
95.00 |
120.00 |
26.3% |
|||
|
Veterinary inspection of premises |
Recharged at cost |
|||||
|
3.5 Riding establishments |
||||||
|
Application for riding establishment licence (1yr) |
plus vet inspection |
318.00 |
295.00 |
-7.2% |
||
|
Veterinary inspection of premises |
Recharged at cost |
|||||
|
3.6 Zoos |
||||||
|
Application for new zoo licence (4yr) |
2,000.00 |
1,805.00 |
-9.8% |
|||
|
Application to renew zoo licence (6yr) |
1,600.00 |
1,325.00 |
-17.2% |
|||
|
Application to vary zoo licence |
1,600.00 |
1,325.00 |
-17.2% |
|||
|
Application to transfer zoo licence |
600.00 |
221.00 |
-63.2% |
|||
|
Veterinary inspection of premises |
Recharged at cost |
|||||
|
4.1 Gambling notices |
||||||
|
Temporary use notice submission fee |
350.00 |
355.00 |
1.4% |
|||
|
Duplicate copy of temporary use notice following theft/loss/damage |
15.00 |
15.00 |
0.0% |
|||
|
Occasional use notice submission fee |
No fee |
No fee |
0.0% |
|||
|
4.3 Gambling premises licences |
||||||
|
Application for new premises licence (without provisional statement) |
Adult gaming centre |
1,340.00 |
1,040.00 |
-22.4% |
||
|
Betting (track) |
1,670.00 |
1,040.00 |
-37.7% |
|||
|
Betting (other) |
2,000.00 |
1,040.00 |
-48.0% |
|||
|
Bingo |
2,450.00 |
1,040.00 |
-57.6% |
|||
|
Family entertainment centre |
1,200.00 |
1,040.00 |
-13.3% |
|||
|
Application for new premises licence (with provisional statement) |
Adult gaming centre |
800.00 |
700.00 |
-12.5% |
||
|
Betting (track) |
640.00 |
700.00 |
9.4% |
|||
|
Betting (other) |
800.00 |
700.00 |
-12.5% |
|||
|
Bingo |
840.00 |
700.00 |
-16.7% |
|||
|
Family entertainment centre |
570.00 |
700.00 |
22.8% |
|||
|
Application for provisional statement |
Adult gaming centre |
1,340.00 |
1,040.00 |
-22.4% |
||
|
Betting (track) |
1,670.00 |
1,040.00 |
-37.7% |
|||
|
Betting (other) |
2,000.00 |
1,040.00 |
-48.0% |
|||
|
Bingo |
2,450.00 |
1,040.00 |
-57.6% |
|||
|
Family entertainment centre |
1,200.00 |
1,040.00 |
-13.3% |
|||
|
Application for variation of premises licence |
Adult gaming centre |
670.00 |
700.00 |
4.5% |
||
|
Betting (track) |
840.00 |
700.00 |
-16.7% |
|||
|
Betting (other) |
1,000.00 |
700.00 |
-30.0% |
|||
|
Bingo |
1,225.00 |
700.00 |
-42.9% |
|||
|
Family entertainment centre |
600.00 |
700.00 |
16.7% |
|||
|
Application for transfer of premises licence |
Adult gaming centre |
800.00 |
300.00 |
-62.5% |
||
|
Betting (track) |
640.00 |
300.00 |
-53.1% |
|||
|
Betting (other) |
800.00 |
300.00 |
-62.5% |
|||
|
Bingo |
840.00 |
300.00 |
-64.3% |
|||
|
Family entertainment centre |
570.00 |
300.00 |
-47.4% |
|||
|
Application for reinstatement of premises licence |
Adult gaming centre |
800.00 |
300.00 |
-62.5% |
||
|
Betting (track) |
640.00 |
300.00 |
-53.1% |
|||
|
Betting (other) |
800.00 |
300.00 |
-62.5% |
|||
|
Bingo |
840.00 |
300.00 |
-64.3% |
|||
|
Family entertainment centre |
570.00 |
300.00 |
-47.4% |
|||
|
Annual fee (payable 30 days after the licence takes effect, and then annually on the anniversary of the grant of the licence) |
Adult gaming centre |
670.00 |
515.00 |
-23.1% |
||
|
Betting (track) |
670.00 |
515.00 |
-23.1% |
|||
|
Betting (other) |
420.00 |
440.00 |
4.8% |
|||
|
Bingo |
700.00 |
515.00 |
-26.4% |
|||
|
Family entertainment centre |
450.00 |
440.00 |
-2.2% |
|||
|
Duplicate copy of licence following theft/loss/damage |
15.00 |
15.00 |
0.0% |
|||
|
Change of name or address on premises licence |
35.00 |
35.00 |
0.0% |
|||
|
5.1-5.2 Charity collections |
||||||
|
Application for street collection licence |
No fee |
No fee |
0.0% |
|||
|
Application for house to house collection licence |
No fee |
No fee |
0.0% |
|||
|
6.1 Taxi and private hire drivers |
||||||
|
Application for HC driver licence (3 years) |
138.00 |
145.00 |
5.1% |
|||
|
Application for PH driver licence (3 years) |
138.00 |
145.00 |
5.1% |
|||
|
Application for dual driver licence (3 years) |
207.00 |
215.00 |
3.9% |
|||
|
Interim application for dual driver licence |
(+ £1/unexpired month) |
34.00 |
35.00 |
2.9% |
||
|
Licence badge deposit (refundable on return of badge) |
50.00 |
50.00 |
0.0% |
|||
|
Replacement licence badge |
20.00 |
20.00 |
0.0% |
|||
|
Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) enhanced disclosure * |
44.00 |
Recharged at cost |
||||
|
External identity check (where required for DBS route 2 verification) * |
7.20 |
Recharged at cost |
||||
|
Driving licence verification check * |
6.90 |
Recharged at cost |
||||
|
6.2 Driver knowledge tests |
||||||
|
Written local knowledge test (full test) (non-refundable) |
40.00 |
45.00 |
12.5% |
|||
|
Written local knowledge test (conditions only) (non-refundable) |
25.00 |
30.00 |
20.0% |
|||
|
Communication skills assessment (administration fee) (non-refundable) |
- |
11.40 |
- |
|||
|
Versant English language assessment * |
30.60 |
Recharged at cost |
||||
|
6.3 Taxi and private hire vehicles |
||||||
|
Application for HC vehicle licence (1 year) |
(including compliance test) |
258.00 |
264.00 |
2.3% |
||
|
(excluding compliance test) |
- |
210.00 |
- |
|||
|
Application for PH vehicle licence (1 year) |
(including compliance test) |
238.00 |
244.00 |
2.5% |
||
|
(excluding compliance test) |
- |
190.00 |
- |
|||
|
Application for PH vehicle licence (1 year) (Stretch limousines) |
(including specialist compliance test) |
185.00 |
190.00 |
2.7% |
||
|
(excluding specialist compliance test) |
- |
110.00 |
- |
|||
|
Licence plate deposit (refundable on return of plates) |
50.00 |
50.00 |
0.0% |
|||
|
Replacement rear (external) licence plate |
20.00 |
20.00 |
0.0% |
|||
|
Replacement front (internal) licence plate |
20.00 |
20.00 |
0.0% |
|||
|
Replacement front (internal) licence plate holder |
2.50 |
2.50 |
0.0% |
|||
|
Transfer of ownership of licence/vehicle |
64.00 |
64.00 |
0.0% |
|||
|
Substitution of vehicle on licence (includes compliance test fee) |
173.00 |
173.00 |
0.0% |
|||
|
Change of vehicle particulars (reg. no., colour, capacity) |
55.00 |
55.00 |
0.0% |
|||
|
Vehicle compliance test * |
54.00 |
Recharged at cost |
||||
|
Specialist vehicle compliance test * (stretch limos) |
80.00 |
Recharged at cost |
||||
|
6.4 Private hire operators |
||||||
|
Application for PH Operator licence (5 years) |
1-3 vehicles |
378.00 |
388.00 |
2.6% |
||
|
4+ vehicles |
636.00 |
647.00 |
1.7% |
|||
|
6.5 Taxi and private hire – other fees |
||||||
|
Duplicate copy of licence following theft/loss/damage |
15.00 |
15.00 |
0.0% |
|||
|
7.1 Hypnotism |
||||||
|
Hypnotism authorisation |
No fee |
No fee |
0.0% |
|||
|
9.1 Sex establishments |
||||||
|
Application for new sex establishment licence |
2,775.00 |
2,670.00 |
-3.8% |
|||
|
Application for renewal of sex establishment licence |
2,500.00 |
2,405.00 |
-3.8% |
|||
|
Application for variation of sex establishment licence |
1,450.00 |
1,215.00 |
-16.2% |
|||
|
Application for transfer of sex establishment licence |
440.00 |
430.00 |
-2.3% |
|||
|
10.1 Skin piercing |
||||||
|
Application for registration of skin piercing, etc, premises |
200.00 |
200.00 |
0.0% |
|||
|
Application for registration of skin piercing, etc, operator |
89.00 |
90.00 |
1.1% |
|||
Key
|
* Fee is
rechargeable on a full cost recovery basis, and will be adjusted
automatically |
|
Fee prescribed in legislation |
|
Fee set within prescribed maxima |
Supporting documents:
PDF 475 KB