Agenda item

The Annual Review of Parking Charges for 2015/16 and Christmas Parking 2014

Minutes:

The Parking Manager presented the annual review of parking charges which proposed car park and on-street parking charge options for 2015/16 and included consideration of free Christmas parking for 2014. Members were advised that the options for Westerham had been tabled and the Westerham Town Partnership were thanked for meeting a tight deadline.

 

The Committee was advised that the income being received this year was an improvement on the previous year and that in terms of actual income the increases approved for 2014/15 were being achieved. 

 

A Member thanked Officers for the work that had been carried out with Westerham Town Partnership.  There were concerns that increasing some of the parking fees would be high in percentage terms.  Members were advised that the current parking scheme in Westerham had only been in place for 6 months.

 

Members discussed the evening charge and the potential effects of extending the day-time charges into the evening period.  Whether charges for Sunday parking should be introduced was also discussed.  In response to questions the Committee was advised that maximum parking times did not apply on Sundays and Bank Holidays and enforcement requirements would need to be considered if parking controls were to be proposed.  A Member expressed the need for free residents parking.  Members were advised that parking permit fees were not reviewed annually and did not feature in this review.

 

Members discussed the charging options for the car park charges and expressed concerns at the proposed increases in Sevenoaks Town Centre in respect to the Blighs car park for 30 minutes and 1 hour believing that these tariffs should remain unchanged. Members were advised that Option 3 did not contain any proposals to amend these charges. In respect to Option 3 Members suggested that the 3 hour charge should be increased to £5.00 to encourage the turnover of spaces.  A Member raised concerns about the parking situation in the area of St Johns Hill and in view of this was not in favour of increasing the parking charges in the St. John’s Hill car parks.  Members discussed that a working group should be set up to review parking in the area of St. John’s in more detail.

 

Members discussed the proposals for on street parking and whether a mixture of options 2 and 3 should be proposed.  Some Members believed that as there was a surplus then the fees should not be increased.  It was suggested that an “Option 4” be proposed increasing the 30 minutes charge by 10p, the 2 hour charge by 20p and 4 hour charge by 10p.

 

In respect to the parking charges in Westerham, a Member proposed that no change be made to either the car park or on-street charges.

 

In respect to the free Christmas parking it was suggested that the preferred dates of the consultees be agreed.

 

A Councillor expressed concern that there was a lack of enforcement in some areas of the District which could affect residents and businesses.  The Parking Manager advised that if there were specific roads causing problems at certain times of the day the Civil Enforcement Officers could visit.  However, if cars were causing obstructions this was usually a Police matter.

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

 

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

 

Resolved: That it be recommended to Cabinet that:

 

a)        the proposed car park charges for 2015/16 be as shown in Option 1-3 in Appendix B1, confirming that no changes be made to the evening charge, the St Johns Hill car parks or the Westerham car parks, and that the 3 hour charge for the Blighs car park be increased by 50p;

 

b)        the proposed on-street parking charges for 2015/16 be a mixture of Options 2 and 3 with the following charges being increased: the 30 minutes charge by 10p, the 2 hour charge by 20p and the 4 hour charge by 10p, and that no  changes be made to the on-street charges in Westerham;

 

c)      free Christmas parking  be provided in all car parks and on-street parking areas throughout the District for two Saturdays before Christmas 2014  and that the dates for the different areas be as preferred by the consultees, and that the cost in terms of lost income be funded from Supplementary Estimates; 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)      to recommend 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.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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