Agenda item

Review of Parking Fees and Charges 2011/12

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Langhorn)

 

Report of the Head of Property Services

Minutes:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Langhorn)

 

Cabinet received a report from the Head of Property Services to enable consideration of the Annual Review of Parking Fees and Charges for 2011/12.

 

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

 

 

Option 1:

This option is to approve increases that meet the financial target of £110,300

Option 2:

This option is to approve the majority of the recommendations including in this report and to  exceed the

financial target of

£110,300

Option 3:

This option is to do nothing, retain the existing fees and charges and the likelihood of not contributing to the financial target

Advantages

 

This option meets the financial target for parking fees and charges taking into account inflation and the implications of the increase in VAT.

 

This option is likely to provide less price increases and limits the impact on usage and the potential for adverse variances in the 2011/12 budget.

 

 

This option allows parking fees and charges to meet the financial target and to also make an additional contribution to the 2011/12 budget process.

 

A further contribution could be made depending on the level of charge introduced for partner permits.

 

 

This option limits the impact on parking usage and town centre vitality and trading.

 

This option is likely to receive the greatest support through the consultation process

Disadvantages

 

This option does not maximise the contribution that parking fees and charges could make to the 2011/12 budget preparation process.

 

Depending on the range of increases approved this option could have a negative impact on short stay parking and town centre trading.

 

This option is likely to receive the most objections through the consultation process.  

 

 

Apart from the possibility of increased income arising from no fee increases this option will result in a significant budget problem requiring additional income or savings to be generated from other activities / services undertaken by the council.

Risks

 

This option still has inherent risks associated with price increases as customers may choose other modes of transport or use other car parks in the district.

 

This option will have a significant risk of customer resistance to additional fee increases with a corresponding substantially increased risk of adverse variances with the 2011/12 budget.

 

 

This option increases the budget preparation difficulties at a time when additional income or major savings are required.

 

The preferred option is Option 2 which is summarised below:

 

(1)        That Cabinet approves 0.20p increases on the pay and display tariffs highlighted in the table at paragraph 3.1 for 2011/12 to generate additional income of £186,600 (exceeding the financial target of £110,300 by £76,300).

(2)        That Cabinet approves a 5% reduction in the level of public permit charges for 2011/12 generating additional income of £2,400.

(3)        That Cabinet approves the conversion of Lucy Street Car Park to a short stay pay and display car park generating additional income of £10,000.

(4)        That Cabinet approves the conversion of Bulk Street Car Park to a specific permit holders’ car park generating a nil impact on the total income.

(5)        That Cabinet approves a 6% increase to Staff and Members permit charges for 2011/12 generating additional income of £3,100.

(6)        That Cabinet approves extending the existing Staff and Member permit arrangements to partnering organisations employing staff that are based in City Council buildings and the Head of Property be authorised to determine the level of parking charges for 2011/12 after further discussions with the partnering organisations and to implement the permit charges for 2011/12.

 

Councillor Langhorn proposed, seconded by Councillor Kerr:-

 

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

 

It was proposed by Councillor Robinson and accepted as a friendly amendment by the proposer and seconder of the original proposition:

 

“That there be no increase to the car parking charges at the Festival Market car park at the present time.”

 

By way of a further amendment it was proposed by Councillor Robinson:

 

“That there be a 5% reduction in permit charges for existing staff in line with the reduction in the level of public permit charges.”

 

However, it was noted that there was no seconder to the amendment and, therefore, it was deemed to have fallen.

 

It was then proposed by Councillor Barry and seconded by Councillor Fletcher:

 

“That the majority of Member and Officer permits be weekday only; with Members who need to park at weekends for Council business able to claim charges and only Officers required to work at weekends able to apply for a 7 day permit.”

 

Members then voted on the amendment.

 

2 Members (Councillors Barry and Fletcher) voted in favour of the amendment and 6 Members (Councilors Ashworth, Blamire, Bryning, Kerr, Langhorn and Robinson) voted against whereupon the Chairman declared the amendment to be lost.

 

Councillors then voted on the original proposition, as amended.

 

Resolved:

 

(6 Members (Councillors Councilors Ashworth, Blamire, Bryning, Kerr, Langhorn and Robinson) voted in favour, and 2 Members (Councillors Barry and Fletcher) abstained.)

 

(1)        That Cabinet approves 0.20p increases on the pay and display tariffs highlighted in the table at paragraph 3.1 for 2011/12 to generate additional income of £186,600 (exceeding the financial target of £110,300 by £76,300).

(2)        That Cabinet approves a 5% reduction in the level of public permit charges for 2011/12 generating additional income of £2,400.

(3)        That Cabinet approves the conversion of Lucy Street Car Park to a short stay pay and display car park generating additional income of £10,000.

(4)        That Cabinet approves the conversion of Bulk Street Car Park to a specific permit holders’ car park generating a nil impact on the total income.

(5)        That Cabinet approves a 6% increase to Staff and Members permit charges for 2011/12 generating additional income of £3,100.

(6)        That Cabinet approves extending the existing Staff and Member permit arrangements to partnering organisations employing staff that are based in City Council buildings and the Head of Property be authorised to determine the level of parking charges for 2011/12 after further discussions with the partnering organisations and to implement the permit charges for 2011/12.

(7)        That there be no increase to the car parking charges at the Festival Market car park at the present time.

 

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Head of Property Services

Head of Financial Services

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

The decision made meets the budgetary requirement and allows for an additional contribution to the 2011/12 draft budget, will enable effective transport management and is consistent with the aims and objectives of the Parking Strategy.

 

The meeting adjourned at 11.45am and reconvened at 12.00pm.

 

Supporting documents: