The Portfolio Holder Decisions meeting on Friday 6 March 2026 saw the approval of revised fees for pre-application planning advice on flood risk management and a decision regarding an ice cream concession at Kingsbury Water Park.

Fees and Charges for Pre-Application Planning Advice for Flood Risk Management 2026/27

Councillor Dale Bridgewater, Portfolio Holder for Fire & Rescue and Community Safety, approved changes to the fees and charges for pre-application planning advice for Flood Risk Management, effective from 1 April 2026. This decision aligns with the Council's constitution, which requires Portfolio Holder approval for any changes to existing or new fees and charges. The review of these fees is conducted regularly to ensure they reflect the costs of delivery, offer value for money, and remain competitive with services offered by other local authorities and commercial entities.

The Flood Risk Management (FRM) Team, acting as the Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), provides advice on surface water drainage for major planning applications. While the Council has a statutory role as a consultee, it is not legally obligated to offer pre-application advice. However, it has a discretionary power to do so under section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972. Section 93 of the Local Government Act 2003 permits the Council to charge for such services, provided that income does not exceed the costs of provision over a financial year.

Providing pre-application advice allows the FRM team to engage with developers at an earlier stage, enabling issues to be resolved before site layouts are finalised. This can lead to a smoother planning process if the advice is followed. The service, which began as a trial, was formalised in 2023, with operating arrangements, costs, and charges reviewed and approved at that time.

For the 2026/27 period, most FRM charges are proposed to increase by approximately 8% to account for rising delivery costs, including staffing. Some charge bands will see a larger increase to correct previous calculation errors. A comparison with adjacent authorities such as Birmingham City Council, Coventry City Council, and Leicestershire County Council indicates that Warwickshire's proposed rates are comparable and considered justified and proportionate. The detailed charges, including various service levels and their associated costs, are outlined in Appendix 1 of the report¹.

Financially, the income generated from these pre-application services can fluctuate due to the ad hoc nature of demand. For the 2025/26 financial year, the Quarter 3 forecast indicated that income was in line with, and slightly exceeded, budget expectations. The proposed fee increases are set with the expectation that this trend will continue in 2026/27. Failure to implement these increases would negatively impact the service budget, as income would not keep pace with rising costs. Similarly, not meeting new income targets would require the service to balance its budget through other means.

Environmentally, offering pre-application advice can lead to improved site designs that reduce existing flood risks and future-proof developments. This, in turn, can decrease the likelihood of emergency call-outs for services like County Highways and Fire & Rescue during flood events, thereby reducing the resource burden associated with flood response and recovery.

Kingsbury Water Park Ice Cream Concession

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property, Councillor Stephen Shaw, approved a recommendation related to the Kingsbury Water Park ice cream concession, as detailed in an exempt report. Further details of this decision are not publicly available.