Members considered the Fees and Charges 2024/25 report presented by Councillor Boden, seconded by Councillor Miscandlon.
Councillor Boden said he would like to put forward an amendment following a suggestion made by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel in respect of the Council’s rental charges for office space and units. There is currently an upper and lower limit of charges, and Councillor Boden proposed that the Council should continue to expect to obtain a market rent for new lettings or lease renewals but that it is no longer appropriate to have an upper limit on any of those charges. Therefore, the recommendation is to remove the upper limit of charges. However, in respect of South Fens Business Centre, there is an issue with the number of tenants compared to the amount of space available. As a result, the Overview and Scrutiny Panel have further suggested that the lower limit be removed at South Fens. Councillor Boden supported this proposal in the hope it would encourage a greater take up of the accommodation available there.
Councillor Hoy seconded the proposed amendments.
Councillor Benney commented that he welcomes the proposals, it makes sense to maximise the rent by removing the upper limit, thus not restricting the market especially as there is not full occupancy at South Fens. The Council should be chasing full occupancy and trying to get as much rent as it can.
Cabinet considered the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel and AGREED to approve the Fees and Charges for 2024/25 subject to the amendments recommended by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel namely, to remove the upper limit on market rents charged by the business centres but also to remove the lower limit at South Fens Business Centre only.