Members considered the annual review of parking charges which proposed options for increases in respect to car park and on street parking charges to meet the budget for 2013/14.  The Committee also gave consideration to proposals for free Christmas parking for 2012.

The Parking and Amenity Manager explained that all the car park options put before the Committee achieved the 3.5% increase in charges reflected in the 10 year budget.

Councillor Mrs Purves proposed and Councillor Mrs Dibsdall seconded the following motion:

Sevenoaks car park changes should not be raised but be kept at the current level in order to encourage people in this difficult economic climate to come into the town and use the shops and other services.

The Chairman noted that this proposal would represent a loss of approximately £60,000 and these savings would have to be found elsewhere in the budget.

The Committee held a debate on the proposed motion.  The motion was put to the vote and LOST.

It was suggested that increases should be applied to the Blighs car park with others slightly further out from the town centre remaining as they are.  People could choose between paying higher charges for the convenience of parking very close to the shops or paying less but with a longer walk to the shops.  Members were supportive of this proposal and went on to discuss the merits of increasing the 1 hour charge in the Buckhurst 1, Buckhurst 2, South Park, Suffolk way and Pembroke Road car parks by 10p to £1.00.

Councillor Grint proposed and Councillor Eyre seconded that all on-street parking charges for 30 minute short stay parking be raised from 10p to 20p

The motion was put to the vote and there voted –

13 votes in favour of the motion

2 votes against the motion

The Chairman declared the motion to be CARRIED.

The Chairman proposed the following increases:

The motion was put to the vote and CARRIED.

In considering the issue of free Christmas parking, a Councillor reported that anecdotal reports from traders suggested that this initiative did not increase footfall in the shops.  The Chairman suggested that this initiative was the District Council’s way of saying “Happy Christmas”.

The Chairman proposed that free parking throughout the District be offered on Saturday 15^th December and Saturday 22^nd December.

Following a vote the motion was CARRIED.

Resolved: That the following recommendations be forwarded to Cabinet for consideration:

(a)   free parking throughout the District be offered on Saturday 15^th December and Saturday 22^nd December;

(b)   all on-street parking charges for 30 minute short stay parking be raised from 10p to 20p; and

(c)    car park charges for 2012/14 be increased by the following amounts: