Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Communities, Leisure and Arts introduced the report setting out the proposed fees and charges for 2024/25 for the services within the remit of the Committee and explained that:

·  Fees and charges were reviewed annually as part of the budget setting process.  It was not proposed to increase any of the fees relating to educational activities for schools at the Museum.  However, it was proposed to increase other fees and charges in line with the Council’s Charging Policy. 

·  The findings of the 2024/25 Budget Survey showed that the Leisure Centre and the Museum featured highly in the list of discretionary services considered most important by respondents.

In response to questions, the Cabinet Member undertook to circulate to all Members of the Committee details of how many schools within the Borough visit the Museum and the action taken to promote school visits.

During the discussion, concern was expressed that one of the findings of the Budget Survey was that the proportion of people who said that they were proud of the Borough had declined from 50.7% in 2022 to 43.8%.  In response, the Cabinet Member emphasised the responsibility of all Councillors to promote pride in the Borough and the potential through the discretionary spend items within the portfolio to raise its profile as a destination that people want to visit.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the contents of the report be noted.

2.  That the Fees and Charges Policy, as detailed in Appendix B to the report, be noted.

3.  To RECOMMEND to the CABINET:  That the Fees and Charges, as detailed in Appendix A to the report, be approved.