Two Norfolk councils are set to bring a raft of licence fee increases, including one which will rise by an incredible 1,468pc.
South Norfolk and Broadland councils are set to raise how much they charge a variety of businesses which require licences, such as dog breeders, tattoo parlours and taxi drivers.
While some increases are minimal, others will provisionally rise by more than 1,400pc.
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The biggest increases at both councils relate to zoo licences, with a 1,416pc increase at Broadland District Council (BDC) for a renewal and a 1,468pc rise at South Norfolk Council (SNC) for a new application.
This means a new licence at SNC will go from costing £73 to £1,145, while a renewal at BDC will increase from £58.20 to £887.
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With Banham Zoo in the neighbouring Breckland District Council, there are no zoos in south Norfolk.
The councils' officers have said the move is intended to cover the actual cost of the service.
Keith Kiddie, SNC’s cabinet member for cleaner, safer environment, described the changes as “reasonable and proportionate” and there was an acceptance from businesses that costs have to go up in a reasonable, phased manner.
"We have got a huge range of licences, from taxis at one end to wild animals at the other," he said.
“A review found the current fees and charges do not recover our full costs of delivering services and this means in grim terms that the licensing activities are being subsidised by the rest of the council.”
Both councils approved the increase but SNC asked for more final costs to be brought back to them in September.
The increases are expected to be brought in in a phased manner, with one-third of the increase coming in April 2024 and the rest in April 2025.
Officials told councillors the phased approach was intended to help businesses prepare at a time when they are impacted by increased costs from high inflation and the crisis in Ukraine.
The seven other biggest fee increases in South Norfolk:
- Breeding of dogs application will rise from £101 to £363 - a 259pc increase
- Riding establishment (plus veterinary costs) application fee from £109 to £359.50 - 230pc
- Home boarding/dog daycare application from £92 to £293.25 - a 219pc
- Dangerous wild animals (plus veterinary costs) from £115 to £361.24 1 – 214pc
- Animal exhibition application Fee from £92 to £271.25 - a 195pc increase
- Animal boarding will rise from £101 to £293.25 - a 190pc rise
- Pet shop licence application will rise from £101 to £286 - 183pc increase
The seven other biggest rises in Broadland:
- Breeding of dogs application fee from £101 to £363 - 259 pc
- Acupuncture, tattooing etc (for an additional practitioner) from £25.50 to £91.00 - 257pc
- Riding establishment application fee from £109 to £359.50 - 230pc
- Home boarding/dog daycare application fee from £92 to £293.25 - 219pc
- Animal exhibition application fee from £92 to £271.25 - 195pc
- Animal boarding application fee from £101 to £293.25 - 190 pc
- Pet shop licence re-inspection fee from £94.50 to £248.75 - 163pc
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