Agenda item
CAR PARK INCOME
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
Minutes:
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.
Supporting documents:
-
Car Park Income Report 130325, item 7.
PDF 157 KB
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Car Park Income Report - App A 130325, item 7.
PDF 107 KB
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Car Park Income Report - App B 130325, item 7.
PDF 407 KB
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Car Park Income Report - App C 130325, item 7.
PDF 65 KB
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Car Park Income Report - App D 130325, item 7.
PDF 427 KB
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Car Park Income Report - App E 130325, item 7.
PDF 63 KB
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Car Park Income Report - App F 130325, item 7.
PDF 86 KB