Issue - meetings

(Cabinet Members with Special Responsibility Councillors Bryning, Hamilton-Cox, Leytham, Sands and Smith)

Report of the Chief Officer (Resources)

(Cabinet Members with Special Responsibility Councillors Bryning, Hamilton-Cox, Leytham, Sands and Smith)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Resources) to consider the annual review of fees and charges for 2014/15.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

In order to assist the decision making process the report was structured into three main areas as follows:

• Environmental Services – Car Parking
• Health & Housing
• Wellbeing

These will set out the key considerations for Members in context of the latest budget projections and list the relevant options, options appraisal and officer recommendations either in the body of the report or in the appendices.  It is important to remember that income budgets have been set based on the best information available at this time, but also that the impact of the current economic climate could continue to adversely affect income generation.

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES – CAR PARKING

All options and relevant analysis are set out in Appendix C to the report. 

Were parking charges seen as purely a way of generating income for the Council then options 2 and 4 combined would be recommended as the way forward. However, this Council’s view of parking and charges is that when properly managed they contribute to the wider traffic management, regeneration and public realm issues within the District. This approach is set out clearly in the Council’s Parking Strategy which is further emphasised in the revised Parking Strategy currently out for consultation. With this in mind, Option 4 is the preferred option as it is the one that is most likely to effectively support the Council’s priorities.

In addition, the following sub-options are the preferred options:-      

Sub - Option 5 to introduce 24 hour parking charges in Lancaster

Sub - Option 6 to increase parking charges at Williamson Park and to remove the Annual Permit

Sub - Option 7 b) to increase all car park permits by 5%

Sub - Option 8 a) to introduce parking charges on Bank Holidays in Lancaster

Sub - Option 8 c) to increase the 1 hour charge on the Festival Market Car Park by 10p

Sub – Option 8 d) to increase parking charges on Morecambe’s outer car parks

In total the officer preferred options would generate an additional £54,800 above the estimated income for 2014/15.

Members voted on the options and sub-options as follows:

Councillor Hanson proposed, Councillor Sands seconded, and agreed (Members voted as set out in resolution (1)

“That Option 4, as set out in the report, which freezes the 1 hr tariff but increases other tariffs on both short and long stay car parks, be approved.”

Councillor Hamilton-Cox proposed, Councillor Leytham seconded and it was agreed unanimously:

“That an additional 24 hour charge be introduced in Lancaster as per sub option 5.”

Councillor Hamilton-Cox proposed, Councillor Barry seconded and it was agreed unanimously:

“That the car parking charges at the car parks at Williamson Park be increased as set out  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72