Agenda item

To consider a report by the Traffic and Transportation Manager (copy enclosed) which seeks the Committee’s views on car parking income generation since the implementation of the revised charges in 2024/25 and the proposed actions going forward.                                                              

                                                                                                                    11.35am – 12.10pm

 

The Lead Member for Environment and Transport and the Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services introduced the report (previously circulated) on Car Park Income to Members.

 

The report gave information about the additional car parking income that was forecasted to be generated by increasing car park tariffs, extending charging hours and introducing charges in car parks that were previously free to use.

 

The Traffic, Parking and Road Safety Manager provided further details to members which were contained in the report.

 

As part of the work to make savings and increase income for financial year 2024/25, the following measures relating to car parks were implemented, these were predicted to generate and additional £699K of income:

 

·       Increase of all tariffs in pay and display car parks.

·       Extend car park charging hours to 11pm (previously 5pm)

·       Increase the cost of car park permits.

·       Introduce charging in some remaining free car parks.

The predicted £699K increase was made up of £591K from the tariff increase, £60K from evening parking, £30K from introducing charging in free car parks, and £18K from the permit cost increase. An explanation of how these individual figures were derived was provided in Appendix A to the report. However, current projections estimated that the additional car parking income for financial year 2024/25 would be significantly less than the target originally forecast. Applying a 19.2% increase for the rest of the financial year would result in £295K in additional income compared with financial year 2023/24. This would still represent a shortfall of £404K below the £699K target increase in income.

 

The old and new tariffs were shown in Appendix B. The table in Appendix C compared pay and display income by town, for the period from April to November 2024 inclusive, and for the same period in 2023. A wide disparity was demonstrated in the amount that parking income had increased in some towns compared to others.

 

The current policy of setting tariffs by car park type (i.e. whether short or long stay) was inflexible and treated all towns/villages as if they were the same, when it was clear this was not the case. It was proposed that a new system was created to ensure tariffs were based on demand. This would mean charging higher tariffs for high demand car parks and lower tariffs for car parks that exhibited lower demand.

 

The Chair thanked officers for the report and welcomed questions from members.

 

Members were uncomfortable about charges being implemented on free car parks in the County. It was felt that there was not enough free parking within town centres to enable visitors to visit and spend money. The Traffic, Parking and Road Safety Manager explained that there was many kerbside free parking in towns and villages and data demonstrating this would be provided at a future meeting. It was important to get the right balance between free and charged parking.

 

Members asked if parking permits were advertised, as many residents were unaware of them. The Traffic, Parking and Road Safety Manager explained that parking permits were advertised on the Council’s website and social media sites.  They Council’s Call Centre also promoted them in response to enquiries received. There had been a 17% increase in the cost of purchasing parking permits which was stated in the report.

Members queried how the County’s parking tariffs compared to tariffs in other local authorities. The Head of Planning, Public Protection and Countryside Services explained that every time there was a review of car parking tariffs a comparison exercise was carried out comparing prices with the 5 other North Wales Local Authorities. There had recently been a further increase in tariffs in neighbouring authorities and therefore Denbighshire’s car parks were charging lower tariffs at present.

 

Members further discussed the importance of free parking within the County and the difference that it could make to local businesses and visitors.  Officers advised that whilst free kerbside car parking was available in all towns and in some towns the town councils provided a free time period for parking in certain car parks, a fine balance required to be struck if the County Council was to be able to afford to invest to maintain the car parks in its ownership.

 

The Chair proposed a workshop be arranged for elected members on the proposed new car park tariff structure to enable all members to feed into it and influence any future decisions regarding the tariff structure. This was proposed, seconded and agreed by all members of the Committee.

 

Members urged officers to re-consider charging for parking after 5pm. The Traffic, Parking and Road Safety Manager stated that lots of feedback had been received regarding evening charging and discussions were ongoing which would be reflected within the proposal.

 

The Chair thanks Officers for attending the meeting.

 

 

 

At the conclusion of a comprehensive discussion the Committee:

 

Resolved: 

 

(i)             to receive the report, endorse its contents, findings and proposed further actions;

(ii)           subject to consideration being given to the suggestions put forward during the discussion, that a proposed new car park tariff structure is developed by officers and brought back to Scrutiny in Autumn 2025; and

(iii)         that, as part of the development of the proposed new car park tariff structure, an all-member workshop is held to enable all councillors to contribute towards its development.