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COR01 - Financial Savings 2020-21 - Charging Increases

COR01 - Financial Savings 2020-21 - Charging Increases | South Lanarkshire Council
TitleCOR01 - Financial Savings 2020-21 - Charging Increases
Council ResourceFinance and Corporate
Service AreaFinance and Corporate
Aims and ObjectivesThe aim of this assessment is to consider, as part of the Council's savings exercise, the impact of applying a standard inflationary increase to charges, this will result in a saving of £0.300m in 2020/2021. Council charges are benchmarked against neighbouring and similar sized councils.

A review of current charges across the Council (excluding South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture Ltd) enabled a Charging Policy to be created which was agreed at Executive Committee on 21 November 2018. The policy applied a standard inflationary increase to charges across the Council.

The areas where the increase in charges will apply include:
- Cremation services
- Care of Gardens
- Special Refuse Uplifts
- Licensing and Registration charges
- Community Alarms

The Council's concession policy will continue to apply and this will mitigate some of the additional charges. This includes Early Years fees and social care costs. Concessions and discounts can help service users access Council Services through providing either free, or reduced charges if they meet the necessary criteria.

Any concession, discount or reduction granted would be in support of the achievement of the Councils objectives which
include :-
- Tackling disadvantage and deprivation
- Raising educational achievement and attainment
- Improving and maintaining health and physical activity
- Promoting participation in cultural activities and providing quality facilities to support communities
ConclusionThe aim of this assessment is to consider, as part of the Council's savings exercise, the impact of applying a standard inflationary increase to charges, this will result in a saving of £0.300m in 2020/2021. Council charges are benchmarked against neighbouring and similar sized councils.

The areas where the increase in charges will apply include:
- Cremation services
- Care of Gardens
- Special Refuse Uplifts
- Licensing and Registration charges
- Community Alarms

The Council's concession policy will continue to apply and this will mitigate some of the additional charges. This includes Early Years fees and some social care costs. Concessions and discounts can help service users access Council Services through providing either free, or reduced charges if they meet the necessary criteria.

Any concession, discount or reduction granted would be in support of the achievement of the Councils objectives which include :-
- Tackling disadvantage and deprivation
- Raising educational achievement and attainment
- Improving and maintaining health and physical activity
- Promoting participation in cultural activities and providing quality facilities to support communities

There is the potential that the proposal to increase charges could have an adverse impact in relation to the protected characteristics of age and disability.

This will be monitored and reported on as part of ongoing financial monitoring and reporting procedures. Any
significant changes to income generation will be picked up as part of this process and reported in financial reports.
Completion date2019 - 2020
Contact Email addressequalities@southlanarkshire.gov.uk
AreaCouncil Wide