North Yorkshire Council
Environment Directorate
27 February 2026
Regulatory Services Fees 2026/27
Report of the Assistant Director –Regulation and Harbours
1.0 PURPOSE OF REPORT
1.1 To seek approval of North Yorkshire Council’s Regulatory Services fees for financial year 2026/27.
2.0 BACKGROUND
2.1 These fees relate to Farming, Food and Health and Environmental Protection and Environmental Enforcement. Most statutory functions delivered by Regulatory Services are not chargeable. However, the limited functions listed are chargeable on a cost recovery basis (Appendix A).
2.2 The fees were previously determined following local government reorganisation with reference to the average time required to deliver the function and officer hourly rates, with subsequent annual inflationary increases applied in accord with the Council’s financial strategy and budget setting processes. An overall inflationary increase has been applied again for the proposed fees for 2026/27, in accordance with the Council’s financial strategy (Appendix A).
2.3 Minor individual exceptions are due to rounding, (to whole pounds). The significant individual exceptions, to an inflationary increase, are where the officer time taken to deliver the function has decreased due to harmonisation and efficiencies (cosmetic procedures) and the descriptor has been amended to clarify what the fee covers. These are Practitioner Registration (skin colouring, tattooing, acupuncture, body piercing, ear piercing and electrolysis) £189.00 to £163.00 and administrative amendment, duplication, or variation £63.00 to £33.00. The stray dog release fee remains at £25.00 with no increase because it is the statutory maximum permitted fine.
2.4 Officer costs for Court costs (and recharge of works in default) will be charged at actual cost, when these have been calculated, corporately, for 2026/27.
2.5 A full review of fees and income will be carried out in 2026/27 ahead of the 2027/28 budget cycle.
2.6 The proposed fee increases would take effect from 01 April 2026 (Appendix A).
3.0 CONTRIBUTION TO COUNCIL PRIORITIES
3.1 To deliver high quality and efficient local services to support safer, stronger, and healthier communities, protecting public health, safety, and the environment in North Yorkshire.
4.0 ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED
4.1 The proposed fees are in accord with the Council’s financial strategy and the service is required to adhere to the strategy.
5.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
5.1 The Corporate Fees and Charges Strategy establishes a requirement to review fees and charges within Directorates on an annual basis.
5.2 The proposed fee income is reflective of the 2026/2027 budget.
6.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
6.1 The proposed fees have been calculated on a cost recovery basis, as permitted by law.
7.0 EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
7.1 There are no equalities implications arising from the fee proposals (Appendix B).
8.0 CLIMATE CHANGE IMPLICATIONS
8.1 There are no climate change implications arising from the fee proposals (Appendix C).
9.0 REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
9.1 To set charges in accordance with the Council’s financial strategy.
9.2 To offset operational and service costs in respect of relevant services.
|
10.0 |
RECOMMENDATION
|
|
10.1 |
That the Corporate Director of Environment, in consultation with the Executive Member for Manging Our Environment, approves North Yorkshire Council’s Regulatory Services Fees 2026/27, contained in Appendix A.
|
APPENDICES:
Appendix A – North Yorkshire Council’s Regulatory Services Fees 2026/27
Appendix B – Equalities Impact Screening
Appendix C – Climate Impact Assessment
BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS: None.
Callum McKeon
Corporate Director – Environment
County Hall
Northallerton
27 February 2026
Report Author: Dean Richardson Head of Regulatory Services
Presenter of Report: Dean Richardson Head of Regulatory Services