Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Finance (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Finance reviewing the proposed 2026 / 27 fees and charges set at the discretion of the Council and forecast to generate greater than £2,000 each. Those fees and charges anticipated to forecast less than £2,000 were also detailed and it was noted that these were reviewed and set by the Director of Finance under delegated powers.

The proposed fees and charges for 2026 / 27 were set out in Appendix A to the report and based on the Fees and Charges Policy report recommended by this Committee (on 2 October 2025) to the Council for approval. Appendix B provided a summary of the proposed fees and charges and a table within the report highlighted the impact estimated to be generated from the fees and charges.

During the lengthy debate that followed and in response to questions that were raised, the following information was provided by the Director:

·                Price On Application (POA) – The number of POAs listed in the fees and charges was queried and in response the Director of Finance advised that a number of fees and charges included variable factors such as electricity supply which were dependent on a number of factors making it difficult to provide a valid price or estimation. This was why such charges were listed as POA and upon application Officers would carryout further work to identify what the full cost would be and how the Council would recover that and then charge appropriately.

·                Off Street Car Parking (including Prom. Car Park) – Members were advised that the figure detailed in paragraph 4.1 of the report was the best estimate at the current time. Officers had considered factors such as whether the number of spaces would remain the same, the anticipated level of increases etc. It was noted that the Car Parking Task and Finish Working Group had reviewed all car parking charges and recommended that there not be an increase for the new financial year.

·                Wharfage – Hythe Quay Maldon and Burnham Pontoon – In response to query regarding the ‘exclusive use’ of visitor pontoons charge detailed, the Director advised he would have to confirm what this definition referred to and advise Members accordingly. Councillor R G Pratt asked that his concern regarding the proposed £150 daily charge for use of a whole pontoon be noted.

Councillor K M H Lagan expressed some concern regarding the recommendation wording and proposed that it be amended to read “…agreed subject to minor amendments and the Council approving…”. Some discussion regarding this ensued and whether only certain fees and charges should be recommended to the Council for approval. The Director of Finance advised that Officers could review the points, and a revised position brought forward if required.

In response to further discussion the Director of Legal and Governance explained it was important to clarify how any minor amendments would be made, whether they would be referred to the Working Group or delegated to the Chairperson and Officers before the Council meeting. Members were advised that the Finance Working Group were meeting on 5 December 2025 and although timescales were tight would therefore be able to review any fees and charges prior to the Council meeting on 11 December 2025.

Following further debate and advice from the Director of Legal and Governance, the Chairperson proposed that the detailed Fees and Charges as set out in Appendix A be reviewed by the Finance Working Group and then (as a recommendation to the Council), that subject to the first resolution that the detailed Fees and Charges Schedule 2026 / 27 be agreed subject to the council approving the Fees and Charges Policy. This proposal was duly seconded and duly agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)             That the Finance Working Group be asked to review the detailed Fees and Charges Schedule for 2026 / 27.

RECOMMENDED

(ii)            that subject to the review at (i) above the detailed Fees and Charges Schedule for 2026 / 27 as set out in APPENDIX A to these Minutes, be agreed, subject to the Council approving the Fees and Charges Policy.