Fees & Charges Consultation 2023

In December 2016 the Council’s public consultation exercise (Have Your Say on Our Future) sought your views regarding the principle of seeking to recover the full costs of delivering services through charges where appropriate. We explained that if this was acceptable and there was an opportunity to increase a fee or charge in line with this principle, specific proposals would then be drawn up and we would consult again. The general response to the consultation confirmed that this was acceptable.

This approach is deemed necessary as part of a wider plan to address ongoing financial pressures faced by the Council. This position is outlined in detail within the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan.

In accordance with the full cost recovery principle, we have reviewed the costs of providing some specific services. The Council’s Fees and Charges Booklet identifies 71 different service areas with fees and charges, with a total of excess of 1500 individual charges.

The Council is not permitted to charge for certain services. For other services, the amount that can be charged is set by statute and/or is capped so we cannot charge more than the set amount, even where it costs more to deliver the service. For other services we can charge to recover our reasonable costs for delivery of the service. These are the services that are being reviewed.

Reviews have been completed for some service areas and specific proposals to increase costs and/or introduce new charges have been prepared in line with the full cost recovery principle. These specific proposals are set out in this consultation document and we are seeking your views on them.

We appreciate that price increases are not popular. Nevertheless, in considering these proposals, we ask you to be mindful that income generation has a very important role to play in reducing the Council’s overall budget pressure and its ability to continue to provide certain services.

Your Views

You can find out more and give your views via the online response form below. If you experience any problems in registering / logging in please contact surveys@pembrokeshire.gov.uk for assistance.

Alternatively you can download the hard copy response form. Once complete please return to: surveys@pembrokeshire.gov.uk or post to: Pembrokeshire County Council, Policy & Partnership Team, County Hall, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1TP

The closing date for responses is Friday 24th February 2023.

Responses will be considered by the Council's Cabinet at its meeting on the 13th of March 2023.