Decision details

Increase in Building Control Fees

Decision Maker: Group Director of Services

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

A review has been undertaken of Durham County Council (DCC) and Stockton Borough Council (SBC) Building Control fees. Over sixty building work categories and size fee points were reviewed with SBC/DCC fees 10% on average higher than Darlington.

An 11% increase is proposed in the Appendices with a proposed implementation date in November 2024, which will then remain fixed for a minimum of 18 months.

1st November 2024.

Decision:

To implement revised fees from 1st November 2024 as outlined in this decision record.

The proposed additional fees are required to support the costs of the service. In April 2024 the Building Safety Regulator introduced new requirements for competence validation and legal/procedural changes, all of which require additional resource, training, supervision and specialism, which increase the cost of the service.

Alternative options considered:

The Building Control service competes for work with external approval bodies and to retain customer’s confidence, price predictability and not to risk reputation several options were considered for a revised set of Darlington charges.

Publication date: 07/10/2024

Date of decision: 20/09/2024