Agenda and minutes

Members are invited to declare any interests they may have with respect to matters which are to be considered at the meeting. Members who consider that they may have an interest are invited to consult the Monitoring Officer or Democratic Services Officer prior to the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To note the procedure that will be followed during consideration of the Call-In requests received.

The Committee noted the procedure that would be followed during the meeting.

To consider a call in request in respect of an Executive decision to approve changes to the fees and charges imposed on those parking in the Borough Council’s car parks.

The Committee considered a report setting out a Member Call-in in respect of a decision taken by the Executive on 25^th January 2022 to approve changes to the fees and charges imposed at the Borough Council’s car parks.

The Executive’s decision to approve changes to the fees charges at car parks owned by the Borough Council had been called in by Councillors Betton, Rise, Tapper, Tedder and Wheeler, who expressed a number of concerns about the proposed changes including that:

·         There had been a lack of consultation with ward councillors, local residents and businesses about the changes.

·         There had been a lack of information about where the additional monies raised from the changes would be spent.

·         The changes would negatively impact on local businesses in Frimley Green and Chobham

·         The changes would increase the levels of on street parking in residential areas.

·         The changes to charges in Chobham car parks would deter people from using the Chobham Water Meadow Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANG) which would in turn place additional pressure on the nearby Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) at Chobham Common.

·         Parking in Chobham was limited and the car park was heavily used by parents of children attending the nearby school.

Those members who had requested the Call-in indicated that they were in agreement with the Executive’s decision to raise the fees charged in Camberley Town Centre Car parks and that their main concerns were focused on the impacts that changes to the parking charges at Chobham Car Park and Wharf Road Car Park in Frimley Green would have on local residents and businesses. It was agreed that the charges at Chobham and Wharf Road car parks would be the focus of the debate.

Officers clarified that any monies received from the car parks contributed to the Council’s overall budget. It was noted that car parking changes for out of town car parks had last been increased in 2009 and that under the current charging regime the monies collected were insufficient to cover the costs of the current service provision.  It was stressed that even if the projected increase in income was achieved it would still not be enough to cover the costs of providing car parks in the rural areas of the Borough.

The Committee noted that the greatest expenditure being incurred was the Non-Domestic Rates imposed by the Government, something that the Council had no control over, other areas of expenditure included maintenance of car park surfaces and lighting and maintenance of the lifts in the multi-storey car parks. 

It was clarified that the figures for the projected split between 1 hour tickets and 2 hour tickets had been reached followed an assessment made by an experienced parking team.

The Committee acknowledged that the projected gap in the Council’s finances had to be covered and that services wherever possible should be covering their costs.  Members recognised that parking fees should have been reviewed in an annual basis to ensure that they kept pace with inflation.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43/PF