CHARGES for a range of Thurrock Council service are set to increase by an average of 4.5 per cent from April.

Cabinet is set to agree changes to 978 fees and charges across 44 services, including on and off -street parking fees which will rise by just over 6 per cent.

A new pricing structure has been completed for events fees which now replaces the single price on application fee for commercial hire of parks and open spaces. Seven new fees have been introduced to the schedule ranging from small fairs to large scale events, including catering units and administrative fees.

However professional dog walkers will see licence fees removed "due to legal and enforcement challenges". The council says previous fees have not been charged to date.

Keep fit enthusiasts will receive a boost with six fees related to personal fitness and group fitness charges removed as the recreation and leisure" service identifies these are counter to initiatives around weight loss and health in Thurrock".

Libraries have adopted a new pricing structure for premises and meeting room hire. This now includes a more detailed breakdown of meeting rooms introducing fees for capacities of five to ten people, ten to 20 people, and 20 to 30 people.

The Thameside Theatre has streamlined fees for ease of customer use. Ticket booking fees have increased by 20p due to additional card payment costs. All other fees were increased by an inflationary amount.

Burials has seen a decrease to several fees but there is a £325 increase for the right to buy a grave and for Muslim graves and a £110 increase for interment in adult graves.

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A report to cabinet said: "The aim of this fees and charges policy is to ensure that the council makes use of the powers available to it to charge equitable, fair and impartial fees and charges that are in line with a cost recovery principle."

The charges will be debated by the corporate overview and scrutiny committee on Tuesday, January 13.

The council was asked to comment.