COUNCIL chiefs in Worcester have raked in more than £38,000 from a service which used to be provided for free.

The city’s planning department, which started charging for advice in May last year, has ended up with £38,318 in the coffers.

It includes raising £3,023 from 61 householders who wanted help with extensions or alterations to their properties.

The largest sums came from developers wanting to build between 50 and 199 homes, which earned the council £10,215.

When the council decided to charge for the first time last year, bossed predicted it would bring in between £25,000 to £30,000, meaning the final figure smashed all predictions.

The rates vary from £41 for residents after advice on an application on their home, to £3,064 on developers seeking to build more than 200 properties.

Councillor Geoff Williams, chairman of the planning committee, said: “All Worcester is doing is what many other authorities have done for some time.

“Lots of people do approach the council for pre-application advice, and what it does do is allow us to focus on those who are making serious applications. It does mean you’ve got to really provide a genuine service because people want to know what they are paying for, but we’ve been able to cope with it.”

A report presented to the city’s planning committee revealed how 223 separate people have been charged for advice, with not a single complaint over the service.

Councillor Robert Rowden, a former chairman of the planning committee who still sits on it, said: “There are two ways of looking at it, if we’re dealing with developers intent on making a profit, the charges are a good thing.

“But if it puts off the proverbial little old lady who can’t afford to submit an application for a side porch, that’s another thing.

“But there is no reason why we should not defend the charges. We are providing a public service.”

The Government changed the rules back in 2003 so councils could ask for payments in return for advice given to people wanting to submit applications.

Applicants are free to ask for no advice if they wish.

Under the Local Government Act, the income must not exceed the cost of providing the service.

There are exemptions, such as charities, public sector groups like Worcester Community Housing and other councils.