On the 22 January 2008 the UK Audit Commission published the report titled - Positively Charged.

The Audit Commission last considered the topic of council charges in 1999 in the report The Price is Right?

The Audit Commission announcement states:

“Audit Commission study

The Audit Commission carried out research in 2007 investigating the approaches councils take to charging for local services. The study resulted in the publication in January 2008 of a national report, Positively charged: Maximising the benefits of local public service charges, together with a suite of tools, to help councils improve their use of charges.”

Audit Commission Report Abstract

This report presents the findings from research into councils' use of their powers to charge for services. It will be of particular interest to councillors, in both their executive decision-making and scrutiny roles, and to finance and service managers with responsibility for the implementation of councils' approaches to charging.

Report Contents

Summary

Recommendations

• Councils should:
• Central government should:
• The Audit Commission will:

Introduction

• Why charging matters
• Strategic uses of charging

Constraints and barriers

• The national framework
• Local barriers

What councils can do

• Setting the right charge
• Using information and evaluation
• Making the case for charging
• Supporting affordability
• Lowering transaction costs
• Promoting equity

Questions for councillors

• Questions

Appendix 1

• Study method and research
• Fieldwork councils
• External Advisory Group

Appendix 2

• Findings from an omnibus survey of the general public

References

Report References

ISBN 1 86240 540 9Pages: 60