Agenda item

The Cabinet is requested to consider the agenda report and the recommendation made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) at its special meeting on 24 January 2017 namely that the Cabinet reconsiders the decision it made on 10 January 2017 with respect to the introduction of evening car parking charges at the New Park Centre and Northgate car parks by taking into account the following comments made by the OSC namely:

(1)  Identifying only the two car parks for the introduction of evening car parking charges is unfair and targeted to the city.

(2)  An increase in all current car parking charges in all the district’s car parks during current charging hours would be a more fair and equitable means to increase car parking charges.

RESOLVED

That having considered the comments made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its special meeting on 24 January 2017, the decision made by the Cabinet at its meeting on 10 January 2017 with respect to Off-Street Parking Charges (as set out in minute 311) be upheld and come into immediate effect.   

The Cabinet received and considered the agenda report and its appendix (copies attached to the official minutes).

The report was presented by Mrs Keegan.

Mr Hansford and Mrs Murphy were in attendance for this item. 

Mrs Keegan remarked that any decision to increase car park charges invariably caused controversy. Such a decision was always carefully considered; in this case, for example, the issue had been discussed by CDC’s Chichester District Parking Forum (CDPF), residents and others in a consultation, the Cabinet, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) at a special meeting as a result of the call-in procedure having been invoked with respect to the Cabinet’s decision at its previous meeting and now again by the Cabinet at this meeting. The OSC’s comments for the Cabinet’s consideration were set out in para 2.1 of the report. The Cabinet’s discussion and decision at its previous meeting were recorded in minute 311 on pages 16 to 19 of the agenda for this meeting.

In the light of the call-in she had re-examined all aspects of this issue. In the case of the New Park Centre car park (NPC), she considered that the free 20-minute drop off facility, the NPC’s own parking spaces and the blue badge parking spaces were sufficient to offset the impact of the introduction of limited evening charges. In view of CDC’s very clear decision to freeze car parking charges until 2018, it was not, in her opinion, open to CDC to raise daytime charges in order to avoid evening charges. The continued debate about car parking charges risked creating and perpetuating an unjustified perception that CDC was a high-charging authority in this respect: the reality was that it was one of the lowest charging authorities in the area. Currently it could be difficult to park in the NPC in the evening; the introduction of car parking charges would, it was hoped, ameliorate that by an effective management of the use of spaces. If a decision was now made to change the proposed charges, this would have to be subjected to a further consultation with a consequent delay and an impact on both expected revenue and capacity planning. The introduction of evening charges was consistent with CDC’s policy that the user should pay, whereas to expect daytime users of all car parks to subsidise evening users of the NPC and Northgate car parks ran contrary to that important principle.

As to Northgate car park and the Chichester Festival Theatre (CFT), it was to be noted that in the past CFT had supported the principle of car park charges albeit on the basis that it would benefit from the income thereby generated. The CFT had written to CDC since the OSC’s recent special meeting expressing two concerns: (a) the potential management problem of late arrivals for performances by patrons arriving by car after 19:00 in order to pay only for the second hour of the two-hour charging period and (b) its front of house staff would have to pay the charges out of their earnings. However, the charges could be avoided by parking in one of the 15 free evening car parks.  More or less every theatre in the country charged for car parking and without losing custom, and although the point was noted about staff, any person working in the city was required to pay daytime parking charges in any car park. The proposal would raise revenue, which should be borne in mind in the light of the budget spending plans item discussed earlier in this meeting and CDC’s deficit reduction plan. The proposal also had the merit of continuing the daytime tariff structure rather than introducing a new rate for the evenings which could cause confusion. The charges would be for a trial period after which the CDPF and the Cabinet would consider the outcome including consumer experience.              

Mrs Murphy pointed out that the evening charges were for a trial period and would be carefully monitored by CDC staff, CCTV and customer feedback; CDC would work closely with the NPC and CFT to ensure adequate, effective publicity to alert and inform patrons and the trial would be reviewed by the CDPF. CDC had commenced on 23 January 2017 a pay-by-phone facility and the take-up rate so far was much greater than anticipated with over 500 accounts already having been created and a very positive response to this innovation. This should reassure CFT as to its concern about patrons arriving late to beat the first hour of evening charging and there being queues then to pay near to curtain-up time. There were over ten machines in Northgate car park. On 6 March 2017 CDC would be introducing parking machines in Northgate and NPC car parks which would accept card, contactless and coin payments.

Mr Dignum said that Mrs Murphy’s comments were very encouraging. He urged car park officers to take initially a lenient approach to users. Mrs Murphy confirmed that there would be sustained communication with the public to ensure that they were properly informed; there would be lots of new signs in place to alert and explain the new evening charges; the NPC and CFT would be encouraged to inform their customers by notices including, for example, printing information on tickets.

Mrs Hardwick alluded to the OSC’s comments in para 2.1 of the report, with which she was unable to agree. As to 1), it was incorrect to say that the charges were unfair and targeted to the city – the two car parks were the busiest at that time of day and the evening charges would help to manage demand and uphold the user pays principle. The trial would be reviewed. As to 2), the point made there was in conflict with the user pays principle and the charges being proposed were not large increases and so it could not be said justifiably that the charges were not fair or equitable. In her opinion the Cabinet should adhere to its original decision.

Mrs Purnell mentioned the positive satisfaction levels among members of the public with CDC’s car park charges. She had attended the OSC’s special meeting and felt that the debate was very finely balanced. The trial should take place and the outcome then reviewed.

Mr Barrow said that due regard should be given to the OSC’s comments. It was incorrect for critics of the Cabinet’s decision to call it a cynical income-raising exercise and that the electors should be heard. This proposal would generate an income potential; if the decision were to be reversed, service savings would have to be found. The OSC’s point in comment 2) could be considered during the review of all parking charges in 2018. He supported the Cabinet’s original decision.

Mrs Plant concurred with Mr Barrow. She too had attended the OSC’s special meeting. She did not agree that the charges were unfair and targeted at the city. These two car parks had been chosen because they were well-used. She applauded the introduction of new payment by phone technology. She remained of the view that a flat rate £1 charge for the evening was preferable regardless of arrival time but she would not allow that to affect her support for the proposal. There were free car park alternatives within easy reach of the NPC and Northgate car parks. The user should pay principle was very important to uphold. This was a trial and the outcome required careful scrutiny. She no longer had the concerns she had expressed at the Cabinet’s previous meeting.

Mrs Keegan emphasised the trial nature of the proposal; how the blanket daytime increases suggested by the OSC would undermine the user pays principle; the use of new or improved technology to assist car park users; and the revenue benefit.

At the close of the debate Mr Dignum referred to the OSC’s two comments. As to 1), he pointed out that the NPC and CFT car parks chosen were the two most heavily used in the evenings and so the proposal was neither unfair nor targeted at the city. As to 2), CDC had promised to review daytime charges before 2018. This was only a trial and the outcome would be carefully reviewed. The case for a flat rate evening charge could be considered as part of that overall review. If charges were not to be introduced then savings in other services would need to be identified. CDC had a policy to raise income from a wide-range of sources, which included its car parks. Chichester District car parks had modest charges and it was intended to maintain this distinctive position. He detected from the debate a clear consensus in favour of adhering to the decision reached at the previous meeting.         

Decision

At the end of the debate members voted unanimously on a show of hands in favour of making the resolution set out below.

RESOLVED

That having considered the comments made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its special meeting on 24 January 2017, the decision made by the Cabinet at its meeting on 10 January 2017 with respect to Off-Street Parking Charges (as set out in minute 311) be upheld and come into immediate effect.  

[Note At the end of this item there was a short adjournment between 11:28 and 11:37]