Agenda item

Corporate Fees & Charges Policy Review

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Newman-Thompson)

 

Report of Chief Officer (Resources)

Minutes:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Newman-Thompson)

 

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Resources) with regard to consideration of the annual review of fees and charges for 2016/17.

 

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

 

The policy attached to the report remains substantially unchanged and it is considered that it remains fit for purpose and it adequately covers Cabinet’s budget proposals.  As such, no options are presented and Cabinet is requested to endorse the policy.

 

Environmental Services – Car Parking - This is the only area in which a number of options are presented and therefore for clarity and to seek Cabinet’s direction, full information is included in Appendix C to the report.  It should be noted that all options will (at least) meet the draft budget income provisions for 2016/17.

 

 

Off Street Pay and Display Charges (as set out in Section 3.1 of the report)

 

Advantages

Disadvantages

Risks

 

Option 1A

This option limits the increases to one tariff across all car parks in Lancaster and Morecambe thereby maintaining all the other tariffs at the existing charging levels

 

Not increasing all the other parking tariffs would maintain the freeze that was approved for 2015/16

 

The increases would maintain consistency with on street charges (if approved by the County Council) and retain the agreed differential charging

 

Increased charges at Williamson Park are broadly in line with the main proposals

 

 

 

This option affects the most popular tariff in Lancaster and Morecambe and therefore a large proportion of customers would be affected

 

 

 

 

It has been assumed that the County Council will approve increases to its on street pay and display charges and if this does not happen and Cabinet approves this option the agreed differential in charging would not be maintained

 

Increasing charges at Williamson Park could reduce the number of visitors

 

 

 

Option 1B

This option limits the increases to Lancaster’s car parks and would maintain the freeze that was approved for 2015/16 for Morecambe’s Car Parks

 

The increases would maintain consistency with Lancaster’s on street charges (if approved by County) and retain the agreed differential charging

 

This option acknowledges the ongoing reductions in usage in Morecambe

 

 

 

This option would introduce differential charging on car parks in Lancaster and Morecambe

 

Increasing evening charges in Lancaster could affect the night-time economy

 

 

Differential charges in Lancaster and Morecambe would lead to confusion on charges and this would result in operational and enforcement problems

 

It has been assumed that the County Council will approve increases to its on street pay and display charges and if this does not happen and Cabinet approves this option the agreed differential in charging would not be maintained

 

Option 1C

As per Option 1B plus:-

 

Usage on long stay tariffs in Lancaster has increased in recent years and these increases would discourage customers who are commuting

 

Unlike Option 1B this option would not affect evening charges and the night-time economy

 

 

 

This option would introduce differential charging on car parks in Lancaster and Morecambe

 

 

 

As per Option 1B

 

                       

To extend the facility allowing resident permit holders in residents parking zones to use off street car parks at certain times

 

Advantages

Disadvantages

Risks

 

This is consistent with the other residents parking zones where off street car parks are available nearby

 

This provides residents with the opportunity to park elsewhere where on street parking spaces are limited or are full

 

 

Dallas Road Car Park is extremely busy and spaces could only be used subject to availability

 

Castle Zone B resident permit  holders may still find it difficult to park

           

The Officer Preferred Options are:-

 

To implement Option 1A in respect of Off Street Pay and Display Charges:–

 

-              Increase all Up to 1 hour parking charges across all car parks in Lancaster and Morecambe from £1.30 to £1.40 and from £1.10 to £1.20 on the Festival Car Park in Morecambe.

-              Increase the Up to I hour charge from 0.90p to £1.00 and the Full Day charge from £1.50 to £1.60 at Williamson Park in Lancaster.

 

This maintains consistent charging across all the main car parks in Lancaster and Morecambe and avoids any confusion over charging arrangements that would lead to operational and enforcement problems. 

 

To extend the facility allowing resident permit holders in residents parking zones to use off street car parks at certain times

 

Councillor Bryning proposed, seconded by Councillor Pattison:-

 

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

 

Councillors then voted:-

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)       That Cabinet endorses the Fees and Charges Policy as set out at Appendix A to the report.

 

(2)       That Cabinet approves Option 1A to increase the Up to 1 hour charge by 10p across all car parks in Lancaster and Morecambe and the Up to 1 hour and Full Day charges by 10p at Williamson Park, Lancaster as set out at Appendix C in the report, subject to Budget Council.

 

(3)       That Cabinet approves extending the facility for resident permit holders to use off street car parks as indicated in Appendix C to the report from 2016/17.

 

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Chief Officer (Resources)

Chief Officer (Environment)

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

Fees and charges form an integral part of the budget setting process, which in turn relates to the Council’s priorities.  Under the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), income generation is a specific initiative for helping to balance the budget.

 

Supporting documents: