The Council is requested to consider the report and its appendices as set out on pages 115-128 of the Cabinet agenda for 9 January 2024 and make the following resolution:
To approve the proposal as set out in 5.1 of the Cabinet report on the increases to the car parking charges from 1 April 2024.
Minutes:
Cllr Desai moved the recommendations which were seconded by Cllr Moss.
Cllr Apel confirmed that she had accepted a major amendment from Cllr Boulcott. Cllr Boulcott moved his amendment which was seconded by Cllr Weller.
Cllr Desai then provided the introduction.
Cllr Boulcott then outlined his amendment motion.
Cllr Desai responded by explaining that the increase in parking charges is based on inflation. She added that only five responses were received for the consultation. She explained that changes to parking times can often cause confusion if there are different times for different car parks. In addition 30% revenue would be lost in rural car parks and 65% revenue from evening charges if the amendment were approved. Cllr Desai added that she would like to extend the membership of the Chichester District Parking Forum to additional stakeholders.
Cllr Burkhart asked what the maximum increase as a percentage a car park could expect at any one time. Mrs Murphy clarified that some car parks will be in line with the average of 6.7% with some higher and some lower. The overall net effect will be charges in line with inflation charges. She added that there has to be a level of rounding up or down.
Cllr Donna Johnson explained that hospitality had been impacted as car park charges can impact on how long people choose to stay in an area. She added that if visitors do not want to pay the parking they will leave. For rural areas free parking on Sunday often encourages visitors. Mrs Murphy explained that the amendment to 8pm for short stay car parks helps with environmental considerations. She added that elsewhere in the south some car parks have 24 hour charges in place. She confirmed that there had not been a significant level of complaints. She added that the rural car parks would continue to have the first one or two hours free.
Cllr Briscoe commented that car park revenue provides funding for some of the council’s functions. He gave his support to Cllr Boulcott’s amendment.
Cllr Weller gave her support to Cllr Boulcott’s amendment. She commented that charges on a Sunday would reduce the number of visitors to East Beach, Selsey.
Cllr Tim Johnson referred to Arundel and Bognor’s lower prices on a Sunday. He asked if the amendments could be taken as two separate votes. Cllr Apel confirmed that she would accept two votes with each element of the amendment taken separately.
Cllr Young explained that he could not support the amendment. He added that car parking charges support services. He asked members to consider whether people are less likely to stay longer if there is a short amount of time you can park for free. Cllr Desai clarified that with MiPermit you can update your parking and stay wherever you are.
Cllr Brown explained that there has to be a balance as parking income balances over services. He explained that he could not support the amendment as the money would have to be found from elsewhere.
Cllr Chant asked if there would be an increase cost in parking enforcement and what the effect would be. Mrs Murphy explained that if any of the amendments were approved it would redirect the priority of the parking enforcement resources accordingly.
Cllr Brown-Fuller asked how the council would be advertising the changes. Mrs Murphy confirmed that there will be notices and a publication of changes to parking charges. There will then be signage in the car parks.
Cllr Hamilton commented on parking charges increases benefitting online retailers. She explained that it did not support the support local scheme.
Cllr Potter then requested a recorded vote. Cllr Briscoe, Cllr Burkart, Cllr Hamilton and Cllr Boulcott supported a recorded vote.
Mrs Shepherd then took the first vote on the amendment motion regarding charges to rural car parks on Sundays. Mrs Shepherd started to take the vote. Members sought some clarity. Mr Bennett explained that there had already been two votes for the amendment . Cllr Apel read the amendment to all members. The vote continued.
Cllr Apel – For
Cllr Ballantyne – For
Cllr Bangert – For
Cllr Bates – Against
Cllr Betts – Absent
Cllr Boulcott – For
Cllr Brisbane – Against
Cllr Briscoe – For
Cllr Brookes-Harmer – Against
Cllr Brown – Against
Cllr Brown-Fuller – Against
Cllr Burkhart – For
Cllr Burton – Absent
Cllr Chant – Abstain
Cllr Chilton – Against
Cllr Corfield – Against
Cllr Cross – Absent
Cllr Desai – Against
Cllr Evans – For
Cllr Hamilton – Abstain
Cllr Hastain – Against
Cllr Hickson – Against
Cllr Hobbs – Absent
Cllr Donna Johnson – For
Cllr Stephen Johnson – Against
Cllr Tim Johnson – For
Cllr Moss – Against
Cllr Newberry – For
Cllr O’Kelly – Absent
Cllr Potter – For
Cllr Quail – Against
Cllr Sharp – Absent
Cllr Todhunter – Against
Cllr Vivian – Against
Cllr Weller – For
Cllr Young – Against
Totals = 12 For, 16 Against, 2 Abstain, 6 Absent.
The amendment was not carried.
Cllr Apel then read the second part of the amendment. Cllr Brown asked for this to be clarified. Mrs Shepherd explained that the substantive recommendation requests evening parking charges to go up to 8pm in the evening. The amendment motion requests evening parking charges to go up to 7pm.
Members then voted on the second amendment.
Cllr Apel – For
Cllr Ballantyne – Against
Cllr Bangert – For
Cllr Bates – Against
Cllr Betts – Absent
Cllr Boulcott – For
Cllr Brisbane – Against
Cllr Briscoe – Abstain
Cllr Brookes-Harmer – Against
Cllr Brown – Against
Cllr Brown-Fuller – Against
Cllr Burkhart – Abstain
Cllr Burton – Absent
Cllr Chant – For
Cllr Chilton – Against
Cllr Corfield – Against
Cllr Cross – Absent
Cllr Desai – Against
Cllr Evans – Against
Cllr Hamilton – Abstain
Cllr Hastain – Against
Cllr Hickson – Against
Cllr Hobbs – Absent
Cllr Donna Johnson – For
Cllr Stephen Johnson – Against
Cllr Tim Johnson – For
Cllr Moss – Against
Cllr Newberry – Against
Cllr O’Kelly – Absent
Cllr Potter – For
Cllr Quail – Against
Cllr Sharp – Absent
Cllr Todhunter – Against
Cllr Vivian – Against
Cllr Weller – For
Cllr Young – Against
Totals = 8 For, 19 Against, 3 Abstain, 6 Absent.
The second amendment was not carried.
Members then took a vote on the substantive motion. Cllr Briscoe, Cllr Potter, Cllr Burkhart and Cllr Boulcott requested a recorded vote.
Cllr Apel – Against
Cllr Ballantyne – For
Cllr Bangert – Abstain
Cllr Bates – For
Cllr Betts – Absent
Cllr Boulcott – Against
Cllr Brisbane – For
Cllr Briscoe – Against
Cllr Brookes-Harmer – For
Cllr Brown – For
Cllr Brown-Fuller – For
Cllr Burkhart – Against
Cllr Burton – Absent
Cllr Chant – Abstain
Cllr Chilton – For
Cllr Corfield – For
Cllr Cross – Absent
Cllr Desai – For
Cllr Evans – Abstain
Cllr Hamilton – Against
Cllr Hastain – For
Cllr Hickson – For
Cllr Hobbs – Absent
Cllr Donna Johnson – Against
Cllr Stephen Johnson – For
Cllr Tim Johnson – Against
Cllr Moss – For
Cllr Newberry – For
Cllr O’Kelly – Absent
Cllr Potter – Against
Cllr Quail – For
Cllr Sharp – Absent
Cllr Todhunter – For
Cllr Vivian – For
Cllr Weller – Against
Cllr Young – For
Totals = 18 For, 9 Against, 3 Abstain, 6 Absent.
The substantive motion was carried.
RESOLVED
To approve the proposal as set out in 5.1 of the Cabinet report on the increases to the car parking charges from 1 April 2024.