Decision details

Adopting this policy will allow for income generation, as the cost of providing business advice will be recovered on a cost recovery basis.

There are financial implications for businesses that have previously benefitted from receiving free tailored advice from Trading Standards if this policy is approved as they will be expected to pay for the service.

However the proposal will include the provision of free sign posting advice along with an initial hour of free tailored advice for the lifetime of the business. 

Beyond this, businesses will be charged for advice they seek from Trading Standards. The rate of charging however is significantly less than a similar advisory service available from a solicitor and is benchmarked as being within the range of charges by other Trading Standards Services in the South East.

Corporate objectives

The policy if amended will help to achieve the strategic outcomes in the Councils 5 year vision statement ‘Increasing Opportunities, Improving Outcomes’ that ‘All Kent’s communities benefit from economic growth and lower levels of deprivation’.

In order to thrive, businesses need access to good quality, value for money regulatory advice to ensure they are trading within the law, and to assist businesses at start up and expansion.

The Cabinet Member for Community Services has taken the decision to: 

1.    agree the introduction of a charging policy for the provision of advice to businesses by the Trading Standards team.

2.    agree a charging policy in  line with option 3;  the first hour free for tailored advice to a maximum of one hour (for the lifetime of the business) and £70 per hour thereafter

3.    agree that the service will provide fully chargeable advice to businesses located outside of the County of Kent

4.    Further explore opportunities to work collaboratively with other authorities and to delegate the decision to undertake such arrangements where appropriate to the Head of Trading Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Services