Agenda item

The Committee considered the report (Agenda Item 8) which set out the Public Protection Partnership’s (PPP) draft revenue budget for 2026/27, including discretionary fees and charges for 2026/27; which sought approval of the draft budget, and draft fees and charges schedule prior to submission to Bracknell Forest and West Berkshire Councils as part of their budget setting process (in accordance with the Inter-Authority Agreement (IAA); and which sought agreement of the figure for the basis of the recharge to Wokingham Borough Council with respect to the services shared with Wokingham Borough Council under the shared service agreement effective on 1 April 2022.

Councillor Tom McCann opened the item by thanking officers for their extensive work on the budget, particularly when there were significant financial pressures to manage.

Councillor McCann highlighted the importance of ownership of the budget at a Member level across the PPP. As part of this he suggested that a discussion be scheduled at the Committee meeting in June 2026 to discuss budget setting across the three local authorities.

Councillor McCann also made reference to the very helpful monthly briefings he received from officers, as Portfolio Holder for this work in West Berkshire, and advised that he would be sharing the notes from these meetings with relevant Members.

Sean Murphy (Service Lead – Public Protection) presented the report. This was an annual item which was required to make recommendations to individual councils on the PPP budget by 30 November each year.

A largely standstill budget was recommended. However, after taking into account the in year pressures referred to earlier in the meeting and the need to accommodate these in 2026/27, the base budget was recommended to be increased by approximately 6%.

If the councils considered that the recommended budget was not affordable, then there would be a need for the PPP to revisit its recommendations.

Turning to fees and charges, the proposed hourly rate for 2026/27 was £74 (an increase of £5). The fees and charges would next be presented to the Licensing Committees of Bracknell Forest and West Berkshire Councils. This would be followed by a period of consultation, after which the fees and charges would return to the Licensing Committees prior to heading to Council meetings for approval.

A significant increase was noted for the inspection of animal establishments, the inspection fees for which were set by the City of London’s Animal Health Service. However, as previously outlined at this meeting, it was the intention for the PPP to bring animal welfare activity in house and within a single team. The cost of conducting inspections would be recouped from the City of London.

Councillor Nick Allen queried how proposed membership changes could impact on fees and charges. Sean Murphy explained that Wokingham Borough Council were setting their own licensing fees and charges, but discussions were taking place to sure alignment of fees and charges across the PPP where it was appropriate to do so. He added that the fees being proposed by the PPP were in a similar range to that being proposed in neighbouring authorities.

Sean Murphy reiterated that the most significant budget pressure came as a result of the statutory fees. These fees should be far higher than was the case as some had not been uplifted in more than 20 years.

Actions:

·       A discussion would be scheduled at the Committee meeting in June 2026 to discuss budget setting across the three local authorities.

·       Notes from Portfolio Holder briefings would be shared with relevant Members.

RESOLVED that the Committee:

·       Had considered the draft revenue budget, including the fees and charges, set out in this report and within Appendix A.

·       Would recommend to partner Councils that the contributions set out in column three of the table at 5.24 form the basis of the 2026/27 net revenue budget contributions.

·       Would recommend to partner Councils the fees and charges set out in Appendix A.

·       Approved the contribution request from Wokingham Borough Council as set out in the table at paragraph 5.24.

·       Agreed that the policy position in relation to monies received under the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS) (which was approved at the October 2024 JPPC meeting) would remain the policy to be applied to spend/allocate any monies received under the scheme.

·       Agreed that the December meeting of this Committee would receive an update report on the outcome of deliberations on the proposed net revenue budget and proposed fees and charges.