Archived decisions

CONCESSIONARY CHARGING POLICY FOR RECREATION AND HERITAGE SERVICES

1. In December, 2002 the Executive Member approved an overall policy framework for setting charges for Recreation and Heritage services which entailed approval by the Executive Member of charges for statutory services and all other charges being set by service managers within specific guidelines. Whilst discussing this overall policy framework members of the Policy Review Committee expressed a desire to look at achieving greater consistency in policies on concessions and discounts across the Recreation and Heritage services and requested that specific recommendations be prepared for approval by the Executive Member.

2. The Executive Member has received a report which outlined relevant policy considerations and reviewed current practice in the Recreation and Heritage services and in which specific recommendations were made for changes in the policy on concessions designed to achieve greater consistency and to help achieve increased use of and wider access to the Recreation and Heritage services. The recommendations contained in the report contributed directly to the aims of the corporate strategy involving maximising life opportunities and improving services and also supported the aims of the cultural strategy on access, inclusion and participation.

3. In drawing up a consistent policy factors taken into account included the overall Recreation and Heritage policy objective of increasing and broadening access to services, particularly for those who experience exclusion as a result of economic, social and personal circumstances and the need to operate within existing financial constraints; potential benefits exist for the marketing of the Recreation and Heritage services from the operation of a consistent policy on concessions and discounts although as regards the latter point it is also important to consider such matters as the practicalities of making the policy operational at minimal cost and how information is best communicated to those groups who may benefit from the policy.

4. The report stressed that if a departmental policy on concessions and discounts is to be successfully implemented it must be seen to be in the best interests of the users, based on sound principles that can be easily understood and applied by frontline staff, not costly to apply and should not have a perverse impact by forcing an increase in the standard charges for other groups of users.

5. The Executive Member has approved the policy set out in the report on concessions and discounts which entails, inter alia, free access for the under 5s to all Recreation and Heritage services, concessionary rates on admission charges for all people over the age of 60, children and young people aged 5-16, people with disabilities and essential carers and the unemployed and low income - benefit claimants and tickets for events targeted at a particular age group or sector being priced at an appropriate level.