aris Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 (edited) http://basc.org.uk/blog/press-releases/latest-news/basc-welcomes-new-firearms-fees/ Valid from 6th of April 2015 Edited March 12, 2015 by aris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ant1 Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 well I will have to cut down my drinking by1 pint of beer per year to recover the increase. {it going to be tough} Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 Seems fair enough to me, though I would be interested to know what is included in a RFD's renewal which warrants 200 quid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 As above, seems fair! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phaedra1106 Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 There are also going to be annual increases (which may or may not be linked to inflation) and a further review of the new fees in 12 months time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carman06 Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 I thought the fees would only go up if service improved and that doesn't look likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutiny Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 As above, seems fair! +1 Also price for a variation has gone down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz2202 Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 Seems fair. Over the five years it could be cheaper for me. But more on my ticket later this year but I'm often putting in for variations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmydean Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 I thought we were going to get a universal service standard ? I dont see why RFD's should cop a lot more ? Review after 12 months ? No service improvements, more **** from the likes of Durham. I'm afraid its not the best negotiating result I have seen and one wonders why all the rhetoric we heard before about what we would expect. No, for me its not good - its a stop gap and a very expensive one until next year and nothing back. Still I'm sure it will sit well with many people. £1.5 million shooters pay an average of £15 more - each - thats a fair whack - not counting RFD's thats about £4.5M more per year with the same staff and no improvement in service. You couldnt make it up. What happened to the BASC suggestion of a ten year licence? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 I thought we were going to get a universal service standard ? I dont see why RFD's should cop a lot more ? Review after 12 months ? No service improvements, more **** from the likes of Durham. I'm afraid its not the best negotiating result I have seen and one wonders why all the rhetoric we heard before about what we would expect. No, for me its not good - its a stop gap and a very expensive one until next year and nothing back. Still I'm sure it will sit well with many people. £1.5 million shooters pay an average of £15 more - each - thats a fair whack - not counting RFD's thats about £4.5M more per year with the same staff and no improvement in service. You couldnt make it up. What happened to the BASC suggestion of a ten year licence? When you look at it like that, then those are fair comments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pigeonblasterian Posted March 12, 2015 Report Share Posted March 12, 2015 I think i might have been a bit miffed if it was a yearly fee. Though i would still pay it. But over five years i do not think anyone will really be much out of pocket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 We are pleased with this result, as you know the proposals were for fees to go up way over this and as the report on our web page says we spent allot of time working on this with the HO. We are still working on the improvement and standardization of licencing across the UK Regular reviews may well be on the cards, but as has been said if the improvements are not forthcoming, and its clearly because some authorities are putting additional steps into the licensing process which are way over and above those listed in the HO guidance and because of this they are incurring additional costs there will be no valid reason to increase costs, after all the majority of authorities can operate perfectly well within the HO guidance so why don't others? However , lets not forget that it will also very much depend on which political party is in power at the time of the next review. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmydean Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 We are pleased with this result, as you know the proposals were for fees to go up way over this and as the report on our web page says we spent allot of time working on this with the HO. We are still working on the improvement and standardization of licencing across the UK Regular reviews may well be on the cards, but as has been said if the improvements are not forthcoming, and its clearly because some authorities are putting additional steps into the licensing process which are way over and above those listed in the HO guidance and because of this they are incurring additional costs there will be no valid reason to increase costs, after all the majority of authorities can operate perfectly well within the HO guidance so why don't others? However , lets not forget that it will also very much depend on which political party is in power at the time of the next review. - last sentence. Perhaps that is why a longer running agreement with built in service improvement should have been sought. Experience tends to suggest that the key thing here is 'annual review', Service improvement will not get off the ground as there's no incentive, nor sanction and a simple annual rise in line with 'inflation' or higher will save this coming back on any agenda. Experience of Durham tends to confirm this. Where is this on any political agenda? Sorry still think its a poor outcome. The errant police authorities will feel they have got away with it and theres no need to change whilst continuing to seeking unathorised ways to lengthen the application /approval process to the frustration and loss to the sport of the chap who 'just wants to shoot a few rabbits'. I would have paid more for specific service standards and a guaranteed level playing field in decision-making for all our shooting people. I dont think I'd be pleased with this as as a result of spending a lot of time working with the HO. Cheapest isn't necessarily best in this particular context. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 A poor result would have been the result if we had sat back and done nothing, That would have resulted with a licence fee probably around £200 and not prospect of service improvement. What we now have, not least of all because BASC were effective in the work we did, is a very reasonable increase, ongoing focused BASC involvement in improving services standards and consistency across the board, but specifically targeting those authorities who do not deliver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 A poor result would have been the result if we had sat back and done nothing, That would have resulted with a licence fee probably around £200 and not prospect of service improvement. What we now have, not least of all because BASC were effective in the work we did, is a very reasonable increase, ongoing focused BASC involvement in improving services standards and consistency across the board, but specifically targeting those authorities who do not deliver David, I presume BASC will be all over these annual reviews like a rash to ensure they are reasonable and proportionate to service level agreements? I have no issue with what has just happened to the costs, BASC appear to have done a good job and I see this as work in progress not a one off involvement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidawson Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 i just hope they don't want the higher fee off me, i put my app in back in july they cashed the cheque august and have just sent the application back to me saying one of my referees failed his background check so got to send a new one in, which will end up taking it past april Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 i just hope they don't want the higher fee off me, i put my app in back in july they cashed the cheque august and have just sent the application back to me saying one of my referees failed his background check so got to send a new one in, which will end up taking it past april That's pathetic. We have no option but to pay for this farce of a (dis) service; so much for improvements. Best reapply before the new increase then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 Yes indeed, we will be all over any further licence fee increase proposals and keeping up pressure on those authorities that don't deliver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 I've just had my cheque cashed for £50. (coterminous) My renewal is on May 15th, so I hope the police don't ask for any more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clc0608 Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 I have to say the comments on here are so refreshing compared to ones on other forums who seems to all be sitting around wearing foil hats. I think the fee increases are perfectly reasonable and mostly inline with inflation. I think we do have to watch the yearly increases and if they start taking the Micheal then there should be action on our part but for now I'm looking forward to saving a bit on my variations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aMooseLoose Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 +1 on the increases being reasonable, I've only just paid for my SGC on the older fees but would of happily paid the new ones. £80 for 5 years isn't bad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitchiet123 Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 seems fair enough to me! so for my coterminous renewal it works out at £1.08 per month! The amount shooters spend on their hobby i would say this is pretty trivial! Obviously im against the fees going up to the ridiculous amount stated in the previous proposal, but even then it would still only be about 2 or 3 pound a month! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carman06 Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 To be honest the price increase is fair. Unfortunately the service isn't standard across the board or upto scratch in all areas. I'd go as far as to say I would pay a fair bit more if it was to only take 1-2 weeks for a variation etc instead of 16 weeks in Lincolnshire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spanj Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 David, I presume BASC will be all over these annual reviews like a rash to ensure they are reasonable and proportionate to service level agreements? I have no issue with what has just happened to the costs, BASC appear to have done a good job and I see this as work in progress not a one off involvement. errrrrrrr what service level agreements and in most cases what service Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spanj Posted March 13, 2015 Report Share Posted March 13, 2015 It remains to be seen whether these increases help provide an improved service offering until then we continue subsidising a shoddy and inconsistent requirement that is for the publics benefit please dont lose sight of that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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