Agenda item

The Cabinet is requested to consider the agenda report and its appendix and to make the following resolutions:

(1)  That the charges set out within the appendix to the report be approved and, subject to consultation responses, be implemented from 1 April 2017. 

(2)  That the Head of Commercial Services be authorised to give appropriate notice of any revised charges pursuant to the Off-street Parking Places (Consolidation) Order 2015 and the Road Traffic Act 1984. 

RESOLVED

(1)  That the charges set out in the appendix to the agenda report be approved and, subject to consultation responses, be implemented from 1 April 2017.

(2)  That the Head of Commercial Services be authorised to give appropriate notice of any revised charges pursuant to the Off-street Parking Places (Consolidation) Order 2015 and the Road Traffic Act 1984.

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

The report was presented by Mrs Keegan.

Mrs Murphy was in attendance for this item.

Mrs Keegan referred to sections 4 and 5 of the report for the background context and the approach to setting car park charges. The Cabinet’s decision in October 2015 (not 2016 as stated in para 4.2 of the report) to impose a two-year freeze on car parking charges reflected increases previously agreed and the work involved in consulting on price increases. CDC’s Chichester District Parking Forum (CDPF), which was a suitably representative body, supported the proposals set out in the appendix to the report for implementation in April 2017 if approved by the Cabinet. She summarised each of the six proposals in the appendix, commenting in particular on the fourth proposal for evening charges. The introduction of new charges was always cautiously contemplated and the proposal for evening charges was more controversial than the others in the report; objections could always be anticipated. The proposal was for a trial or pilot introduction of evening charges. Many other local authorities had evening or 24-hour charges (CDC was rather unusual in not doing so) and the practice of other authorities had been researched. The details for the two chosen car parks, Northgate (long stay) and New Park Road (short stay) were set out in paras 4.2 and 4.3 of the appendix (page 41) together with important mitigation measures that were designed to minimise or remove any adverse impacts of the proposals. The charges were considered modest for an asset which was costly to maintain.

Mrs Murphy advised that West Sussex County Council, a consultee, had considered the potential for street deflection and supported the trial project. Mr Over highlighted the mitigation measures in para 4.2 of the appendix. Mrs Murphy summarised the concerns of the New Park Cinema (NPC) and Chichester Festival Theatre (CFT) about the impact of evening charges on their audiences or patrons; they feared a drop in bookings and charges being an obstacle to those who were on low incomes. She emphasised that this was a trial in two car parks only with sufficiently accessible alternative free car parks in close proximity. Chichester city was unusual compared with many town/city centres regionally (Hampshire and East Sussex) as well as nationally where charges had been introduced in response to the evening economy.       

During the debate various points were made, which included the following.

Evening Charges

Mr Barrow supported the introduction of evening charges. Car parks were on CDC’s land and were a very valuable asset and charges helped to maintain them. Modest charges were being proposed and would compare favourably with other councils’ charges. The consultation would afford the opportunity for views to be expressed. He doubted that the CFT (in view of the price of a theatre ticket) and NPC would lose audiences because of evening charges. He noted the support expressed by the CDPF.

Mrs Lintill noted the views of the CFT and NPC but in her experience changes to charges tended to be accepted after a year-long trial.  

Mrs Hardwick supported the proposals. Evening charges represented a significant revenue stream and most drivers expected from experience to pay for a car park at night. The current absence of charges was a luxury the continuation of which could not be justified.  

Mrs Plant supported the introduction of evening charges. She wondered whether since the NPC was a community asset it might have a greater case than did the CFT for not having evening charges.  

Mrs Purnell was supportive of the proposals and suspected that CFT and NPC audiences would not decline if charges were introduced. She queried the length of the trial period, feeling it should be shorter and suggested that during it CDC work with CFT and NPC to ensure that audience levels were sustained.

Mrs Murphy explained that a 12-month trial would enable officers to assess the seasonality factor and understand better the impact of introducing or changing charges.

Motorhomes Charges

As to motorhomes, Mr Barrow said that he would be concerned if they were allowed to stay in the coastal car parks (some of which currently had height restrictions in place) and that these must not be allowed to become caravan parks.

Mrs Murphy advised that the Bosham, Bracklesham Bay, East Beach Selsey and Marine Drive West Wittering car parks were the ones likely to be opened to motorhomes. The tariff boards made it clear that overnight parking by motorhomes and caravans was not permitted.

Mrs Purnell asked if a motorhome would be charged for the number of bays it occupied and expressed the hope that motorhomes would not be allowed to park overnight and that height restrictions should be utilised.  

Mrs Murphy advised that practice across the country showed that motorhomes paid for the spaces they actually used thereby maintaining income levels.   

Mrs Hardwick supported the need to regularise and make clear the use of car parks by motorhomes. She also agreed with charging for electric vehicles because the current free use was a strong disincentive for the efficient turnover and management of spaces. She requested details of the cost to CDC of subsidising the electric car parking spaces.

Mrs Murphy confirmed that charging for electric vehicle spaces was required to manage spaces far more efficiently by encouraging turnover and ensure the bays were cost-neutral. The subsidy information would be supplied by Mrs Murphy to Mrs Hardwick.

Use of Avenue de Chartres Car Park

Mrs Purnell  asked how well pay on foot was working at the Avenue de Chartres (AdC) car park.

Mrs Murphy said foot, there had been a slight increase in the duration of stay at AdC. Customer feedback showed that the greater flexibility afforded by pay-on-foot was appreciated. However, technology had developed and the Cabinet had already approved plans for payment by mobile phones which provided the flexibility demanded by users but without the large up-front investment that pay-on-foot required.  

Mrs Taylor referred to the under-use of AdC car park and queried how competitive it was with the railway station car park.

Mrs Murphy replied that season tickets at the AdC car park were significantly cheaper than railway station.

Mr Dignum summarised the debate by saying that he had heard no objection to the proposals for season ticket increases; there was a consensus in favour of a trial project for evening charges in two car parks; charges for motorhomes should be introduced but vigilance was required regarding the risk of parking abuses; and it was time to introduce charging and extend the number of charging points for electric vehicles. 

Decision

At the conclusion of the debate the Cabinet voted on a show of hands unanimously in favour of the recommendations in paras 3.1 and 3.2 of the report.

RESOLVED

(1)  That the charges set out in the appendix to the agenda report be approved and, subject to consultation responses, be implemented from 1 April 2017.

(2)  That the Head of Commercial Services be authorised to give appropriate notice of any revised charges pursuant to the Off-street Parking Places (Consolidation) Order 2015 and the Road Traffic Act 1984.