Decision details

Date of Decision:

8^th May, 2026

Title:

Rotherham Music – Fees and Charges 26/7

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Polly Hamilton, Service Director for Culture, Sport & Tourism

Details of Specific Delegation

or

Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Deliver decision-making related to the development and operation of a Music Education Service and the functions of a Music Hub as defined by Arts Council England

Sub Scheme of Delegation - Executive Director of Regeneration and Environment - April 2026.pdf – page 31

Decision

As part of the Council’s Fees & Charges process the following information was included regarding the Music Services fees:

"Music Service - The service is seeking an exemption from the annual fees and charges inflation increase, in order to enable it to work towards a self-financing model. Prices will rise but the Council will not increase the income budgets in this area, allowing the service to meet its current income budgets."

This information contained an error carrying a decision from the previous year’s budget setting process forward. The information should have read:

"Music Service - The service is seeking an exemption from the annual fees and charges inflation increase, in order to enable it to work towards a self-financing model. Prices will remain the same as 25/6 fees and charges agreed via Officer Decision Report in September 2025. Council will not increase the income budgets in this area, allowing the service to meet its current income budgets."

The decision is to agree the freezing of prices for that Rotherham Music charge to schools and parents in the year 2026/27. The proposed charges are as below.

The charges for the academic year 2025/6 were agreed by ODR in September 2025. It is proposed that these remain the same for the 2026/27 academic year whilst the service goes through price modelling following the delayed restructure of the delivery team.

Reasons for the decision:

The service plans to remodel its charges and products before budget setting next year as it begins to work with a new staffing structure that will be in place from 1/9/2026. The new structure will allow for increased business for the service as well as a more affordable offers for parents and schools.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Prices could be increased however the service is undertaking an overall pricing review to ensure that, where possible, a full cost recovery model can be adopted. Rather than make small increases that may be reversed as a result of this work it is more prudent and less confusing for customers for prices to be held whilst this work is completed.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Conflicts of interest declared by the Decision Maker if they sit as a Cabinet appointed representative to an outside body which relates to the decision:

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports relevant to the decision being taken:

Officer Decision Report - Rotherham Music: Fees & Charges for Academic Year 25/26

Decision - Rotherham Music Fees 2025-2026 - Rotherham Council