Following the meeting on 22 August, the Chairman of the Scrutiny Committee had called in the following decision of the Cabinet
a) the proposed new tariffs for each of the council owned car parks in Mid Devon be approved as detailed in the annexe to the Working Group report apart from overnight charges from 1800 - 0800 which are to revert to being free of charge, with the exception of Tiverton Multi Storey and Phoenix House car parks (which will remain 24 hour charging).
For the following reasons:
· The decision is illogical
· The decision diminishes legitimate income
· The decision goes against the balanced recommendation of the Car Parking Working Group
The Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 2 September 2019 resolved that the Cabinet be requested to reconsider the decision to abolish night time car parking charges.
The Cabinet had before it the relevant *report and a copy of the minute from the Scrutiny Committee on 2 September 2019. The Chairman stated that there was a need to reconsider the recommendations of the working group and the Economy Policy Development Group in light of the discussions held at the Scrutiny Committee.
He reflected on the initial decision by the Cabinet at its meeting on 22 August 2019, where the Cabinet had agreed with the new tariffs for each of the Council owned car parks but did consider in the majority of council owned car parks that overnight charging should cease, with the effect of reducing the Council’s income from car parking by £28k a year. He felt that, given the Council’s substantial in year budget deficit coupled with the recent decision to agree significant capital investment in the MSCP, that it would be inappropriate to forgo this sum. He considered the requirement that a Council cannot use net income from car parking charges to support revenue expenditure across the Council, even with any increased income no breach of legislation would take place. Capital expenditure had already been proposed for the car parks which would extinguish any net income gained over the period. He felt that the recommendation of the working group to purchase a permit for overnight parking for £100 per year which was less than 30p per night, offered good value.
Consideration was given to:
· The original decision which some felt was reasonable and sound seeing that there had been a recommendation to increase tariffs during the day time
· The need for any net income to be used to maintain and/or make improvements to Council owned car parks
· The costs of running the car parks and the amount of income received per annum
· Parking in William Street car park
· Free overnight parking would alleviate on street parking problems
· The views of the Scrutiny Committee
· The need to encourage the purchase of permits by better advertising
It was therefore RESOLVED that:
a) The proposed new tariffs for each of the Council owned car parks in Mid Devon be approved as per the annexe in the Working Group Report
b) Overnight parking permits be amended to offer greater value for money for residents and that the annual one-off charge be set at £100. Also approved is an option to pay by monthly direct debit at £10 per month, with a one-month cancellation period.
(Proposed by the Chairman)
Note: *Report and minute previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.
Arising from a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) and Group Manager for Street Scene & Open Spaces, the Economy Policy Development Group had made the following recommendations:
a) The proposed new tariffs for each of the council owned car parks in Mid Devon be approved as detailed in the annexe to the Working Group report;
b) Overnight parking permits be altered to offer greater value for money for local residents and that the annual one off charge be set at £100. To also approve an option to pay by monthly direct debit at £10 per month with a one month cancellation period.
The Cabinet Member for Finance outlined the contents of the report stating that the Economy Policy Development Group had set up a working group to re-examine the effectiveness of the current charging regime and to consider any appropriate recommendations for changes. The Council had last visited its Pay and Display charges in April 2016 and in 2018/19 it generated £656K from 604,450 vends. In addition circa £115K was raised in charges for permits and off-street parking fines. He considered the findings of the working group’s report and explained that the tariff proposals had been put through a pricing model based on historic vend analysis.
Consideration was given to:
· A proposition for overnight charges to be removed except for the MSCP and outside Phoenix House
· Residents parking overnight in narrow side streets and the impact on emergency services
· Properties within the towns with no parking facilities
· Climate change issues would not stop people using cars in Mid Devon, especially in the rural areas
· The lack of bus services in the evenings
· The views of the Chairman of the Working Group and the work of the previous working group, the proposed suggestions of the Group, the need for the William Street car park to continue to have free time, the need to increase publicity for purchasing permits and the savings that could be made. He voiced concern with regard to the removal of night time charges as that would be an impact on income received.
· The proposal of £1.25 per hour in short stay car parks and whether that was an awkward amount to charge
· The amount of parking fees paid digitally
· The cost of parking across the county and into Somerset
· A concern that the William Street car park was very busy at school times and that shoppers could not park there
· Where the money went from overpayments and whether any overpayments collected should be given to charity
It was therefore:
RESOLVED that:
a) the proposed new tariffs for each of the council owned car parks in Mid Devon be approved as detailed in the annexe to the Working Group report apart from overnight charges from 1800 - 0800 which are to revert to being free of charge, with the exception of Tiverton Multi Storey and Phoenix House car parks (which will remain 24 hour charging).
b) the Economy Policy Development Group be requested to consider the issue of overpayments for car parking and what should happen to that additional income.
(Proposed by Cllr A White and seconded by Cllr Mrs N Woollatt)
Notes:
i) Cllr Mrs N Woollatt informed the meeting that she had had correspondence with residents regarding the item;
ii) Cllr D J Knowles declared a personal interest as he had a residents parking space in Wellbrook Street car park;
iii) *Report previously circulated, copy attached to minutes.