Issue - meetings

(1)     The report detailed a number of adjustments to the Fees & Charges for the services provided by Highways & Transportation. KCC recovered its reasonable costs supplying certain services; which prevented the Authority subsidising external organisations who then re-charged clients.  Service fees & charges were reviewed annually, they were held for three years during the economic downturn. In June 2012 a small increase was approved, which was effective for 18 months.

(2)     Officers had undertaken a review of charges to determine whether:-

·                costs were being recovered

·                how they compared with fees charged by other Highway Authorities

·                services were charged by other Authorities but not by KCC

          The effective date for agreed changes to fees and charges was April 2014.

(3)       The paper detailed the review of fees & charges for Highways & Transportation 2014/15, which included:-

Highway service fees - to reflect the cost of providing the services, it was recommended to increase fees by up to 3% - rounded down to the whole pound.  A review of charges made by other Highway Authorities showed that Kent had fallen behind in certain fees.

Highway developer fees - Most Highway Authorities charged developers for supervision of highway works as a percentage of the estimated scheme costs, typically between 8.5% - 10.5%. It was proposed to raise them from 8% to 10%.

It was also proposed to raise project management, design checks and site audit inspections of improvement schemes from 9% to 10% of the construction works plus 3% of the balance of the scheme above £499k.

Access to technical information - It was proposed to increase the charges for Developers, Consultants and the Legal profession by up to 3%.

Provision of training services - National driver alertness and speed awareness courses - the fees were set in accordance with Association of Chief Police Officers guidelines. As KCC was the training service provider the £5 increase was noted for information only.  

Bike-ability Cycle Training for schools from £15 to £10.

For other KCC training delivered by H&T personnel, it was proposed to increase fees by up to 3%.

(4)     A revised schedule of the Fees & Charges would be published on the KCC website, subject to approval for all highway charges, the amended rates would apply from 1 April 2014 and would be further reviewed each financial year.

(5)     RESOLVED that, subject to no increase in the fees for Minibus Driver training and reassessment, the proposed adjustment of existing fees and charges, and the introduction of a charge for pre-application advice, as set out in Appendices 1 and 2 to the report, be noted.