AN INCREASE in fees and charges collected by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council looks set to go ahead after the decision-making Cabinet voted to approve the plans.

The seven-strong Conservative Cabinet voted to approve plans to freeze council tax for the fifth year running but agreed that an average 1.3 per cent increase would be needed for fees and charges.

Key increases in fees charged by the borough council include a five per cent increase in the cost of parking for six to eight hours in council-owned long-stay car parks, from £5.60 to £5.90, and a 4.8 per cent increase in the charge to park for eight to ten hours, from £6.30 to £6.60.

However, short-stay parking rates will stay at the current level.

In addition, customers wishing to use the borough council’s bulky waste collection service will be charged £25 for the first three items, but under new proposals, any additional items will be charged at an extra £3 per item.

Passengers using the council-run Centre Shuttle service will also be hit with a 20 per cent increase for an all-day return fare. This means an all-day return ticket will rise from £2 to £2.20.

Eastrop Liberal Democrat Councillor Stuart Parker raised concerns that an increase in bulky waste collection would mean that cash-strapped families already struggling would be hit harder.

He told the meeting: “When you move into a new method, there are potential people who may be victims. Possibly by taking away that charge, it might then reduce the incidents of fly-tipping.”

But Cllr John Izett, Cabinet member for property, finance and commissioning, defended the plans.

He said: “It is an annual review of fees and charges that we carry out as part of the budget process.”

The borough council is set to receive an additional £85,000 in 2015-16 from the increase in fees and charges.

The fees and charges cost schedule will need to be approved as part of the council’s annual budget at a meeting in February.