A “REVISED scheme” for dog-boarding fees is set to be unveiled next month following complaints about a “barking-mad” hike in charges for licences.

Dog-boarders across Bracknell Forest, Wokingham borough and West Berkshire were hit with a 375 per cent increase in licence costs earlier this year taking their renewal payment to £570.

READ MORE: The new licensing fees dog-boarders say are 'barking mad'

The new fee sparked outrage across the dog-boarding community, with licence holders labelling the fees “unfair” and “unjust”.

A review of the fees was announced by the Public Protection Partnership (PPP) — the service which looks after licensing across the three local authority areas — in July following an outcry from dog-boarders.

But now Bracknell Forest Council (BFC) has indicated a revised scheme will be considered following the review.

Councillor John Harrison, BFC’s Public Protection boss, said: “The intention of a dog boarding licensing scheme has always been to deliver high levels of animal welfare.

READ MORE: Why dog boarding fees are being reviewed by licensing bosses

“A proposed scheme was put forward earlier this year, however, following feedback from a number of license holders, we are currently reviewing the implementation of the scheme, specifically the renewal costs and payment arrangements.

“A revised scheme is to be considered by the Joint Public Protection Partnership Committee next month, details of which will be released in due course.”

Karen Fleck, a Sandhurst-based dog-boarder hit by the new fees, told the News she wants to see the three local authorities charge 2018/2019 rates, which means £142 for a new licence and £119 for a renewal.

Cllr Harrison was responding to questions put to him by the News about the legality of the scheme after campaigners raised concerns about its legitimacy.

According to the 'Open for Business: LGA guidance on locally set licence fees', "councils that divert fees income from the relevant licensing scheme to fund other licensing work, or to fund other council activities, will be breaking the law.”

Following a meeting of BFC’s licensing and safety committee in October 2019, where fees and charges for the coming year were discussed, it was noted in the council’s records that “the £57 hourly rate for officer time was a summation of overhead costs of all local authorities within the Public Protection Partnership, which was primarily within central support services in each local authority.”

READ MORE: More than 1,000 sign petition against new dog boarding fees

New sets of processing and enforcement costs should be calculated separately, the elements of which should be 'clearly communicated' to the applicants and income from the fees should not be drawn into a council's general fund, according to the Local Government Association's guidance. 

The PPP did not consult with the dog-boarders affected by the hike in fees before they were announced, despite Cllr Harrison's claim the charges were 'proposed'.

The next meeting of the Joint Public Protection Partnership Committee takes place on Tuesday, September 15.