Decision details

The Cabinet Member is asked to approve the principles to be applied in establishing fees and charges for Public Rights of Way (PRoW) services and approve the schedule of fees and charges for PRoW information and services.

The Public Rights of Way and Access Service (PROWAS) is able to charge for a range of services that it provides. Where the power to charge exists, it is limited, by primary legislation and regulation, to the recovery of the full costs to the County Council of the provision of that service. In the case of opposed public path orders, the recovery of some elements of the County Council’s costs are prohibited.

In the current financial climate, it is essential that, where the PROWAS is able to charge for services, that the full cost of provision to the County Council is recovered, subject to regulation. The decision report will set out the principles applied in establishing the true costs of service provision and provide as an appendix the revised charges for PROWAS services.

How the proposed decision meets the objectives of ‘Increasing Opportunities, Improving Outcomes: The proposal ensures, as far as is possible, that the full costs of service provision are reflected in fees and charges for PRoW work. This enables the existing revenue budget to be used in ways that support “Increasing Opportunities and Improving Outcomes” rather than in subsidising discretionary services that may be charged for.

As Cabinet Member for Regulatory and Community Services, I agree to publish the fees and charges for Public Rights of Way (PROW) and Access Service activity and to delegate authority to the Public Rights of Way and Access Service Manager to annually review and publish revised fees and charges subject to the application of a number of key principles.