The Chairman clarified that the report before the Cabinet was to decide what would go out for consultation with the final decision taken in February 2015.  The Portfolio Holder for Economic & Community Development presented the the annual review of parking charges report which proposed car park and on-street parking charge options for 2015/16 for consultation, and included consideration of free Christmas parking for 2014.  The Portfolio Holder highlighted the recommendations made by the Economic & Community Development  Advisory Committee who had considered the same report. 

Members discussed freezing the on street parking charges and in Sevenoaks making parking free after 8.30pm by removing the £1 charge and bringing daytime charges up to 8.30pm. 

It was noted that there was also free parking being made available for the Christmas lights evening events in Westerham on 27 November and Sevenoaks on 28 November.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved: That:

a)    the proposed car park charges for 2015/16 be as shown in Option 1-3 in Appendix B1, confirming that the 3 hour charge for the Blighs car park be increased by 30p as shown, the £1 evening charge in the Sevenoaks town centre car parks which runs up to 9.30pm be removed and daytime charges extended through until 8.30pm, and that no changes be applied to the St Johns Hill car parks or the Westerham car parks;

b)    no increases be applied to on-street parking charges for 2015/16 and that the on-street charges in Sevenoaks town centre which apply up to 9.30pm be amended to end at 8.30pm;

c)    free Christmas parking  be provided in all car parks and on-street parking areas throughout the District for two Saturdays before Christmas 2014, on 6 and the 13 December 2014 as requested by the consultees; and

d)    a working group be set up to review the car parking fees at Sevenoaks St. John’s and the Membership include Cllrs. Hogarth, Miss. Stack and Miss Thornton and report this to the Portfolio Holder for Economic and Community Development to report to Cabinet.

e)    it be recommended to Council that cost in terms of lost income for free parking to be provided in all car parks and on-street parking areas throughout the district for two Saturdays before Christmas 2014 be funded from Supplementary Estimates.