Issue - meetings

(1)     The report sought approval of amended fees and charges for 2008/09 (and 2009/10) in respect of a wide range of services provided by Kent Highway Services. The Local Government Act 2003 (Section 93) provided the power for charging for discretionary services but also stipulated that local authorities may only cover their reasonable costs in providing such services. This year fees were originally set for 2008/9 based on an approximate increase of 3%. This was in line with the anticipated rise in staff and administration costs. It had now become necessary to amend the charges due to additional increases in energy and other extraordinary costs. The current fees and charges would increase by approximately 10% and incorporate a degree of rounding up.

(2)     In order to prevent undue additional administration costs it was intended that the proposed new charges would be maintained through to March 2010. The increase was in line with the anticipated E&R budget increases for 2009/10.

(3)     This report was supplementary to the original report by the Director of Highways to the Board on 8 January 2008 and the report ‘Income for Kent Highway Services’ by the Alliance Executive to the Alliance Board on the 28 August 2008.

(4)     Mr Whitehorn informed the Board of three amendments to the Appendix.