Trading Standards Fees 2024-25
Cost-recovered business advice services
Hourly rate: £67.10 + VAT
To be charged for all advice beyond basic legal advice and its application or interpretation, including labelling, standards, and regulations.
Primary authority fees
Primary Authority set-up fee - £260 (no VAT)
Annual Review – £104 (no VAT)
Primary Authority Advice – £67.10 per hour (no VAT)
Primary Authority bundles (discounted rates):
Set-up fee, including 10 hours advice: £868.40 (no VAT)
10 hours advice: £671 (no VAT)
All hours are chargeable with a minimum charge of ½ an hour and then 15-minute increments.
The charges for examining, adjusting, testing, certifying, stamping, authorising or reporting on weighing or measuring equipment will be individually calculated and based upon £67.10 + VAT per officer per hour at the place where the service is provided.
This would include testing equipment such as weights, scales, petrol pumps and weighbridges for accuracy.
Certificates
When a certificate is issued, an additional charge of £67.10 + VAT is payable.
Quality assurance
The fees set out above for legal metrology work, including the additional cost for a certificate, will be charged for quality assurance calibrations and tests. In all cases VAT must be added.
Twice the fee (plus VAT) is chargeable when uncertainties are stated.
Cancelled appointments
Where officers attend on site for an appointment, which has not been cancelled prior to the officers leaving the office, the Service reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee based upon £67.10 + VAT per officer per hour.
A charge will be made for any delay incurred; this will be charged at £67.10 + VAT per officer per hour.
Special circumstances
Where it may be inappropriate to apply any of the above fees or discounts, a special rate may be arranged with the Trading Standards Operational Manager or the Technical and Business Manager.
Explosives licence fees
Fees listed below for the licensing to store explosives relate to Regulations 13,16,17 and 27 and Schedule 5 of the Explosives Regulations 2014.
The fees for the Explosives Regulations 2014 are set by The Health and Safety and Nuclear (Fees) (Amendment) and Gas Safety (Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2024.
Grant of Licences - Explosives Regulations 2014 - Regulation 13
We grant the licence under regulation 13 and we determine which type the licence is by regulation 27 and schedule 5 to the 2014 regulations.
Licence to store explosives where, by virtue of regulation 27 and Schedule 5 to the 2014 Regulations, a minimum separation distance of greater than 0 metres is required:
A. One year’s duration: £202
B. Two years duration: £266
C. Three years duration: £333
D. Four years duration: £409
E. Five years duration: £463
Licence to store explosives where, by virtue of regulation 27 and Schedule 5 to the 2014 Regulations, no minimum separation distance or a 0 metres separation distance is prescribed:
A. One year’s duration: £119
B. Two years duration: £154
C. Three years duration £190
D. Four years duration: £226
E. Five years duration: £260
Renewal of licence to store explosives where, by virtue of regulation 27 and Schedule 5 to the 2014 Regulations, a minimum separation distance of greater than 0 metres is prescribed:
A. One year’s duration: £94
B: Two years duration: £161
C: Three years duration: £226
D: Four years duration: £291
E: Five years duration: £357
Renewal of licence to store explosives where, by virtue of regulation 27 and Schedule 5 to the 2014 Regulations, no minimum separation distance or a 0 metres minimum separation distance is prescribed:
A. One year’s duration: £59
B: Two years duration: £94
C: Three years duration: £132
D: Four years duration: £166
E: Five years duration: £202
Varying a Licence - Explosives Regulations 2014 - Regulation 16
A: Varying name of licensee or address of site: £40
(e.g., ABC supermarkets Ltd changes to ABC supermarkets 2019 Ltd) or a change of road name e.g., council changes High Street to New High Street.
B: Any other kind of variation; the reasonable cost to the licensing authority of having the work carried out.
This will apply to many licence changes e.g., movement of cabinets on plans, when an officer needs to visit the site, reissue of paperwork. This fee will be the reasonable cost of carrying out the work. In Staffordshire we will be charging £67.10 per hour.
VAT is not applicable on these charges.
Transfer of Licence - Explosives Regulations 2014 - Regulation 17
Transfer of licence: £40, Replacement of licence: £40.
Please note: The fee payable for a licence or renewal of a licence:
(a) of less than one year’s duration is, respectively, the fee set out above for a licence or renewal of a licence of one year’s duration decreased proportionately according to the duration of the period for which the licence renewal is granted.
(b) of more than one but less than two years’ duration is, respectively, the fee set out above for a licence, or a renewal of a licence, of one year’s duration increased proportionately according to the duration of the period for which the licence or renewal is granted.
(c) of more than two but less than three years’ duration is, respectively, the fee set out above for a licence or renewal of a licence of two years duration increased proportionately according to the duration of the period for which the licence or renewal is granted.
(d) of more than three but less than four years’ duration is, respectively, the fee set out above for a licence or renewal of a licence of three years’ duration increased proportionately according to the duration of the period for which the licence or renewal is granted.
(e) of more than four but less than five years’ duration is, respectively, the fee set out above for a licence or renewal of a licence of four years duration increased proportionately according to the duration of the period for which the licence or renewal is granted.
Licence to sell fireworks all year round.
These fees are set by the Fireworks Regulations 2004, regulation 9. Annual licence to sell fireworks outside the permitted periods: £500.
Petroleum storage - annual fees to store petrol
Fees payable in respect of applications for the granting of storage certificates and petrol licences under the Petroleum (Consolidation) Regulations 2014 are set by The Health and Safety and Nuclear (Fees) (Amendment) and Gas Safety (Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2024.
- Storage of up to 2500 litres petroleum: £48 for each year of certification
- 2500 to 50,000 litres: £65 for each year of certification
- Over 50,000 litres: £137 for each year of certification
The Keeper of the fuel must pay an annual fee which is calculated according to the maximum storage capacity. The Keeper can choose to pay for up to ten years in advance.
Petroleum history file search
Fees charged in respect of Petroleum History File Search carried out £67.10 per hour +VAT (per officer).
Charges for statutory duties
For any activities carried out as part of statutory duties where cost incurred may be reclaimed by the local authority, this will be charged at £67.10 per hour plus VAT. This may include additional charges for third parties engaged on behalf of Staffordshire County Council in order to fulfil legislative requirement. Subsistence may be charged in accordance with SCC rates, and mileage may be charged at HMRC rates. Costs for overnight stays will also be recharged.