To receive information from the Head of Finance regarding Car Parking charges.
Minutes:
The Committee had before it a report * from the Head of Finance providing an update on car parking after the first 3 months of the new charging strategy.
The Head of Finance reminded the Committee that during 2015/16 the Managing the Environment Policy Development Group had set up an officer and Member working group to review the current car park charging policy and then made recommendations on a new policy to be implemented in April 2016. The review had looked at usage levels, benchmarked charges against neighbouring Councils, considered more free periods, reviewed concessions and considered economic consequence.
After an extensive consultation process, reported at all of the 34 car parks and advertised in the local press and at the Council offices, the main changes were made to the new charging policy were:
· The removal of the £1 tariff for 5hrs parking in the 3 long stays
· But freezing the £2 tariff for all day parking
· Introducing a 30min free period during the evening and freezing the overnight charge at a £1
· Extending the free period at Westexe and Phoenix House to 30 mins
· Introducing a 30 minute free period at William St and Wellbrook St
· Reducing Sunday and BH charges to £1.
At the last meeting of the Committee a question had been raised regarding the fact that the parking tickets issued in the multi storey car park indicated that ticket holders could stay until 2.am although the car park actually closed at 8.00pm. The Head of Finance explained that this was an issue with the vending machine settings which the contractor has been asked to change. He also pointed out that the car park may become 24 hour when the Premier Inn was operational.
The Officer explained that the report contained 3 months’ worth of data (a further month was now available) but that the vend analysis for May and June was not accurate due to a fault in the system and therefore only the data for April and July could be used for analysis.
The data provided clearly showed that income had increased across all of the councils pay and display car parks since the new fee structure had been introduced. However, without accurate vend analysis it was impossible to draw meaningful conclusions from the vend data provided. The officer reminded Members that other issues such as weather, fuel prices and road closures for example, could affect overall vend data and therefore it would be difficult to prove any direct cause.
The officer confirmed that income had increased on the same period last year by 13%.
The working group would be reconvened when there was 6 months’ worth of data available to review.
Discussion took place regarding:
· Improvement works to the multi-story that were outstanding;
· Negative feedback from members of the public regarding the £2 charge for a whole day and the removal of the 5 hour tariff;
· Positive feedback from visitors to Phoenix House regarding the charging levels;
· Officers would ask the Business Forum for feedback regarding fees;
· Impact of free parking concessions on other car parks in close proximity.
Note: - * Report previously circulated and attached to Minutes.
Supporting documents: