Agenda item

The Executive RESOLVED that:

      i.                The temporary provision of free parking up to 4 hours charges in Knoll Road and Main Square car parks be lifted on 14 September 2020 and fees and tariffs revert to pre-lockdown charges;

     ii.                Free parking at Knoll Road Car Park introduced pre-lockdown to support the town during the High Street refurbishment works be reintroduced but extended to two hours rather than one until January 2021;

    iii.                Parking charges remain suspended in the rural car parks beyond 13 September 2020 but to be reviewed in October 2020;

   iv.                The Executive Head of Business, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, is granted delegated authority to introduce parking reductions and promotions as and when required

The Executive considered a report setting out proposals to reintroduce parking charges at the Council’s Main Square and Knoll Road Car parks following their suspension in March 2020 as a result of the implementation of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.

Following the easing of Government restrictions car park use had increased and occupancy levels of the Main Square car park were now at 91% of pre-lockdown levels, whilst Knoll Road car park occupancy was at 23% of pre-lockdown levels.  It was noted that over a two week period the year on year incomes from the fees and charges collected from Main Square car park charges had fallen from £47,162 to £3,442 when compared to the same period in 2019/20.  Losses which when replicated over a continuous twelve month period represented a £1.136million loss of income for the Council, a sum which equated to 9% of the Council’s overall budget.

It was noted that there were typographical errors in the customer figures relating to the Main Square car park set out in Table 2 of the report’s addendum and the correct figures were:

It was agreed that data in all the tables would be checked and the information circulated to members.

It was noted that, following similar decisions to temporarily suspend parking charges, neighbouring local authorities had reinstated car parking charges in June and July.  It was agreed that clarification would be sought from those neighbouring authorities which had reinstated charges on their car park occupancy rates and if reintroduction of changes had had an impact on these.

The Executive RESOLVED that:

      i.                The temporary provision of free parking up to 4 hours charges in Knoll Road and Main Square car parks be lifted on 14 September 2020 and fees and tariffs revert to pre-lockdown charges;

     ii.                Free parking at Knoll Road Car Park introduced pre-lockdown to support the town during the High Street refurbishment works be reintroduced but extended to two hours rather than one until January 2021;

    iii.                Parking charges remain suspended in the rural car parks beyond 13 September 2020 but to be reviewed in October 2020;

   iv.                The Executive Head of Business, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, is granted delegated authority to introduce parking reductions and promotions as and when required