URL: https://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=9766

Decision Maker: Cabinet Member for Financial Sustainability

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Purpose: Summary A Business Planning Report was received by Cabinet on 16 September 2025 outlining the council’s updated Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) to 2030/31 and the future financial risks and challenges facing the council.  The report also outlined the review of fees and charges for 2026/27 and detailed that the council will review fees and charges on an annual basis, and subject to consultation and consideration of equality impact assessments, all revised fees and charges should be at full cost recovery, where consideration is given for those driven by inflation, or statute.  Legislation may also prescribe for a different basis for charging, such as for charges to be set at a prescribed rate, or at a reasonable charge Cabinet on 16 September 2025 recommended that Council approval delegation of the proposed executive fees and charges, for implementation from 1 January 2026 to the Cabinet Member for Financial Sustainability in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, and to consider them for approval with the benefit of the consultation responses and equality impact assessment. Please note under Land Charges, reference LC3 – Certificate of Search (LLC1) fee and reference LC6 – CON29 ONLY fee have been slightly amended post consultation, in line with benchmarking completed with management consultants. The overall Full Search fee (reference - LC1) is remaining the same and is the service used by the majority of customers. There were no specific comments on these charges throughout the consultation.  This report requests authorisation for the proposed executive fees and charges as set out in Appendix A, for implementation from 1 January 2026. Decisions 1.    To authorise the proposed executive fees and charges for 2026/27 set out in Appendix A considering any consultation responses and equality impact assessments.  

Content: Summary A Business Planning Report was received by Cabinet on 16 September 2025 outlining the council’s updated Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) to 2030/31 and the future financial risks and challenges facing the council.  The report also outlined the review of fees and charges for 2026/27 and detailed that the council will review fees and charges on an annual basis, and subject to consultation and consideration of equality impact assessments, all revised fees and charges should be at full cost recovery, where consideration is given for those driven by inflation, or statute.  Legislation may also prescribe for a different basis for charging, such as for charges to be set at a prescribed rate, or at a reasonable charge Cabinet on 16 September 2025 recommended that Council approval delegation of the proposed executive fees and charges, for implementation from 1 January 2026 to the Cabinet Member for Financial Sustainability in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, and to consider them for approval with the benefit of the consultation responses and equality impact assessment. Please note under Land Charges, reference LC3 – Certificate of Search (LLC1) fee and reference LC6 – CON29 ONLY fee have been slightly amended post consultation, in line with benchmarking completed with management consultants. The overall Full Search fee (reference - LC1) is remaining the same and is the service used by the majority of customers. There were no specific comments on these charges throughout the consultation.  This report requests authorisation for the proposed executive fees and charges as set out in Appendix A, for implementation from 1 January 2026. Decisions 1.    To authorise the proposed executive fees and charges for 2026/27 set out in Appendix A considering any consultation responses and equality impact assessments.  

Date of Decision: November 29, 2025