Agenda item

To provide Cabinet with various options relating to car park charges in the Borough’s off-street car parks.

Members were informed that the current parking charges were introduced in 2010 for Council owned public car parks on the basis of 1-hour free, 2 hours at £1, 3 hours at £1.50 and £3 all day.  However, charges were not introduced at three small car parks in Kimberley and one small car park in Eastwood on the basis that low usage would not justify the cost of installing pay and display machines.

On Consideration of the report, it was stated that Option 2 would be the preferred option as this would create turnover in towns at minimum cost to individuals, while also considering a shift toward public transport. It was stated that there was no intention to introduce charges at the car parks which were currently free within the Borough. Following discussion, Option 2 was amended to retain the free period for blue badges but remove the free period for electric vehicles. A further tariff to for ‘visitors paying £3 for up to 6 hours’ would be added. This would allow for visitors to use restaurant and cinema facilities without having to incur a charge of £15.

The changes would be communicated well in advance of the introduction in January 2024, through the Council’s Communication Team and signage throughout the car parks.

RESOLVED that:

1.          Option 2 as included in the report, as amended, be approved as follows:

·     Visitors with a blue badge free

·     Visitors paying £1 for up to 2 hours

·     Visitors paying £2 for up to 3 hours

·     Visitors paying £3 for up to 6 hours

·     Visitors paying £1 all day

·     Visitors paying £2 all day

·     Visitors paying £15 all day

·     Visitors using the train station multi-day tariff.

2.               Visitors with blue badges be eligible for free parking, while electric vehicles be charged for.

3.               Cabinet receive a further report to consider a mitigating option of permits at a concessionary rate being available for purchase by anyone who can provide proof of employment in Beeston.

Reasons

Use of off-street car parks is now returning to pre-pandemic levels. The total cost of providing off-street car parking is around £294,000, with income generated currently at £255,000, leaving a net deficit of £39,000 to be met from the General Fund.

Options considered and rejected:

Option 1

No change to the existing tariffs resulting in approximately £38,750 needing to be met from the General Fund to cover the cost of the service.

Option 3 – Model based on introducing a 2-step tariff structure

Option 3 as included in the report would potentially result in additional income of approximately £342,000 (net of VAT).  This is reduced from £370,700 after allowing an estimated 5% reduction in car park usage following the increase in charges and the cost of implementation £10,000.

Option 4 – Model based on introducing a three-step tariff structure

Option 4 as included in the report stated that as the issue of car parks being used as a park and ride facility is unlikely to arise other than in Beeston, Members gave consideration to a 3-step tariff option being introduced in Beeston only.  An increase in the daily charge in Beeston to £10 may also impact people who work full-time in the town who currently pay £1 or £2 all day to park.