Scrap metal licensing policy
6. Fees
6.1 Statutory Provisions to recover fees
Para 6(1) of the SMDA permits local authorities to charge a licence fee at cost recovery.
6.2 Current fee level
A list setting out the current scrap metal licensing fees can be found on the Council website.
6.3 The Council’s approach to fee setting
The Council has made reference to the document “Local Government Association (LGA) guidance on locally set licence fees”. The LGA guidance acknowledges that Councils are free to design their licensing service in a manner that best serves the needs of their community and recover the costs accordingly.
The Council has also referred to the Home Office guidance “Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013: guidance on licence fee charges”. These outline which activities can be funded by the licence fee.
Buckinghamshire Council will take a reasonable and proportionate approach aiming to set a fee level that is sufficient to cover the cost, but not make a surplus, whilst providing value for money for the applicant.
6.4 Review of Fees
Fees are subject to a full review every 3 years.