The council has a statutory duty to provide a street naming and numbering (SNN) service. Over the years the use of electronic address data has increased the demand on the service and the role undertaken. The service currently provided therefore has evolved to include statutory and discretionary elements.

Through the registration and distribution of new addresses and postcodes, developers receive a service which is of clear commercial value to them. Without an address they have difficulties procuring service connections and processing property sales. Their customers, the purchasers of the properties, would in turn have difficulty accessing a range of services after they move in as their address will not appear on any database or mapping system. As a general principle there is greater acceptance of charges where a clear benefit is visible in return.

This report is looking at introducing a scheme of charges on the discretionary element of the work, it will summarise the SNN legislation, look at the reasoning and explore available options. A scheme of charges (appendix A) is proposed which will aim to recover the cost of the discretionary element of the work, thus helping to maintain service delivery.