Review of Civic Government and Houses of Multiple Occupancy Licence Fees
Perth and Kinross Council · 10 March 2025
Back to Licensing Committee — 10 March 2025 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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Our vision is a Perth and Kinross where everyone can live life well, free from poverty and inequality ___________________________________________________________________ Committee or Board: Licensing Committee Date of Meeting: 10 March 2025 Report Title: Review of Civic Government and HMO Licence Fees Report Number: 25/41 Report Author: Sarah Rodger, Legal Manager Organisational Lead: Lisa Simpson, Lead Legal and Governance ___________________________________________________________________ 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this Report is to recommend that the Committee approves an increase in fees for civic government and HMO licences, with effect from 1 April 2025. 1.2 Sections 1. Purpose 2. Recommendations 3. Background/Main Issues 4. Impact Value Assessment 5. Appendices 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that the Licensing Committee approves the increase in fees as shown in Appendices A and B, with effect from 1 April 2025.
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3. Background/Main Issues 3.1. Historic Information/Context 3.1.1 The Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 give the Council power to set fees for individual licences in order to recover the cost of providing the civic government and houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licensing functions. In setting the fees, the Council must ensure that the income received through fees meets the expenses incurred in exercising its functions under the Acts. 3.1.2 Fees for these licences were last reviewed in January 2024. The proposed change represents an inflationary increase of 4% which is consistent with the Council’s medium term financial plan (report 23/267 refers) where the mid- range assumption for 2025/2026 is 4% for fees and charges. 3.1.3 This review has been undertaken in accordance with the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee report Charging for Services (report 15/65 refers) and the revised Corporate Charging Policy of full cost recovery for providing a service. 3.1.4 The Council’s Corporate Plan 2022/23 to 2027/28 lays out five outcome focussed strategic objectives which provide clear strategic direction, inform decisions at a corporate and service level and shape resources allocation. The following objective is relevant to this report: People and businesses are increasingly able to prosper in a local economy which supports low carbon ambitions and offers opportunities for all. 3.2. Options Available to Elected Members 3.2.1 It is proposed that a 4% increase in fees is made to all fees for licences under the Acts listed in the Appendices. Fee increases are necessary to ensure that the costs of operating the licensing system are fully recovered through fees. 3.2.2 The fees for Short Term Let Licences are not included in this report as those fees are being reviewed separately and a separate report will be submitted to the Committee in relation to this. 3.3. Conclusion/Rationale for Recommendations made in Section 2 3.3.1 The report proposes an increase in fees charged in terms of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 as set out in this report, to take effect from 1 April 2025. 3.3.2 The Committee is asked to approve the increase in fees charged as set out in Appendix A and Appendix B.
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4. Impact Value Assessment Review of Civic Government and HMO Licence Fees - IVA 5. Appendices 5.1 Appendix A - Perth and Kinross Council - Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 Proposed List of Fees 5.2 Appendix B - Perth and Kinross Perth and Kinross Council – Council Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 Proposed List of Fees