THE cost of garden waste collections is going up in Worcester - and some sports centre prices.

Worcester City Council has published a raft of new fees and charges which are set to kick in from April.

A huge list of alterations, which will be voted on as part of the 2015/16 budget next month, includes:

- The annual garden waste collection yearly fee will rise 10 per cent from £47 to £52

- Prices for students visiting The Commandery will rise 25p to £4.50 but adult rates are frozen, while hire of either of the two small meeting rooms will go from £40 to £60

- Hiring Worcester City Museum's gallery or balcony and cafe for an evening will be priced at £140 instead of the current £132

- 'Pay as you go' gym customers will see the annual fee increase from £20 to £21 at St John's Sports Complex and Nunnery Wood Sports Centre

- Standard badminton rates, use of the gym and squash sessions will all rise by 10p

This time last year the garden waste collection service cost just £30, before it was increased by a tenner last April.

The service is used by 5,015 people and is credited with keeping landfill down, helping the environment and being good value for money.

As well as the increases, scores of other charges are being frozen including market stall trading fees, fishing permits, swimming prices, purchasing of graves, golf sessions at Perdiswell Leisure Centre and taxi licensing.

The cost of applying for a sexual entertainment venue, such as a lapdancing club, has been slashed from a whopping £3,798 all the way down to £2,100 after councillors raised concern about the big price last year.

Fees for scrap metal dealers, keeping stray dogs in kennels, pet shops, acupuncture and tattoo studios remain unchanged.

The pricing strategy was debated during a meeting of the performance, management and budget scrutiny committee, where it was backed.

Lesley Meagher, corporate finance director, said the charges, which are currently in draft form, will be "passed onto the cabinet" in February and then voted on by full council before kicking in.

She told the committee most of the figures were based on inflation or "forecast recovery", meaning they reflect the cost of providing the service.