Residents and businesses in Northumberland are set to face increased costs for applying and renewing a range of licences after councillors agreed to raise prices.
Northumberland County Council officers said the move was necessary due to the cost of living crisis, which had seen energy and fuel bills increase as well as staff wages.
Members of the council's licensing and regulatory committee were told on Tuesday that the authority did not make any profit on licence fees, and the increases were needed simply to cover costs.
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Speaking at the meeting, head of public protection Phil Soderquest said: "We're experiencing significant pressures within the local authority. Whilst we recognise the pressure on businesses, it is still appropriate to consider the current fees.
"The largest increase is for dangerous wild animals, which is quite simply due to the amount of work that has to be done. I accept it is a significant increase, but that is what the cost recovery is."
The fees that will be increasing are:
- Providing or arranging for the provision of boarding for cats and dogs - renewal application increasing from £225 to £248. New application cost increasing from £250 to £275
- Providing day care for dogs - renewal application increasing from £225 to £248. New application cost increasing from £250 to £275
- Dog breeding establishment - renewal application increasing from £225 to £248. New application cost increasing from £250 to £275
- Hiring out horses - renewal application increasing from £225 to £248. New application cost increasing from £250 to £275
- Selling animals as pets - renewal application increasing from £225 to £248. New application cost increasing from £250 to £275
- Keeping or training animals for exhibition - both new application and renewal application increasing from £240 to £264.
- Animal Licensing further fees - re-inspection fee increasing from £75 to £83, additional host licence fee increasing from £80 to £88, additional licensing activity fee increasing from £229 to £252
- Tattoo/Ear piercing - premises licence increasing from £90 to £99, personal licence increasing from £55 to £61
- Scrap metal - site licence increasing from £650 to £715, mobile collector increasing from £500 to £550
- Zoo licence - licence for one species increasing from £150 to £165, 2-5 species from £275 to £303, more than six species from £400 to £440
- Dangerous wild animal act - initial licence increasing from £116 to £250
The committee unanimously agreed to the new costs, which will come into force from January 1 2023.
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