Content

8.1

The Committee considered a report of the
Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services which presented for
approval a draft Sheffield Biological Record Centre Charging and
Data Supply Policy, and proposals to increase the fees charged by
the Sheffield Biological Record Centre to commercial customers,
from 21st July 2025.

 

 

8.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the
Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee:-

(a) 
Approves the draft Sheffield Biological Record Centre Charging and
Data Supply Policy attached to this report as an Appendix 2 of the
report;

(b) 
Approves the proposed charging structure and fees for the supply of
Sheffield Biological Record Centre data detailed in the report;
and

(c) 
Agree that the new fees will take effect for all new data requests
submitted after 21st July 2025.

 

 

 

 

8.3

Reasons for
Decision

 

 

8.3.1

The recommended Biological Record Centre fee
increase for our service to commercial customers is the first one
since 2011 and is required to cover increased costs and to
contribute to a balanced budget. The increased fees have been
benchmarked against fees charged by other Local Environmental
Records Centres (LERCs) to commercial customers.

 

 

 

 

8.4

Alternatives
Considered and Rejected

 

 

84.1

Alternative Option 1: Increase all fees for
the service to commercial customers by 100%.
This was considered but the higher end of the
fees would make Sheffield’s BRC rates higher than other LERCs
and feedback from some commercial customers was that this would be
unpalatable. Calculations were run and the proposed fee increases
are predicted to cover the BRC costs that can legitimately be
charged for.

 

 

8.4.2

Alternative Option 2: Wait to increase fees
for the service to commercial customers until we have invested in
new software for the BRC.
We are looking into software options, but it
could be at least another 6-12 months before the data is
transferred, and the fee increase is already overdue. If we can
increase the fees now it will help to contribute to the higher
costs this financial year.

 

 

8.4.3

Do Nothing – Don’t increase the
fees
This option has been discounted as the Council
would not be bringing in funds that it can reasonably charge
for.