Agenda item - Off-Street Car Parking Strategy and Revised Tariff Structure

(Safer, Greener & Transport Portfolio Holder) To consider the attached report (C-065-2014/15).

(1) That a revised Car Parking Strategy based on the following principles be agreed:

(a) in order to support the economic vitality of town centre businesses, a low-cost tariff level for the first 30 minutes in all car parks be retained, but that the tariff be increased from 10p to 20p;

(b) with the exception of locations in (c) below, new tariffs be implemented as set out in the table in paragraph 9 of the report;

(c) no tariff increases to take place in the Waltham Abbey and Ongar car parks (which did not offer access to the train and London underground systems) except for an increase in the tariff for the first 30 minutes from 10p to 20p;

(d) except as provided in (e) below, a free 2 hour parking period followed by a charge of £1 to park all day be introduced in those car parks that were currently free on Saturdays, with the same charges applying in all other Council car parks on Sundays and Bank Holidays, with the exception of Waltham Abbey and Ongar where the current free all-day parking would continue;

(e) parking to remain free of charge on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays during the month of December;

(f) charging to be introduced at the Civic Offices car park, with free stays for visitors to the Council offices; and

(g) Blue Badge holders to continue to be exempt from payment in Council car parks.

(2) That the revised tariffs be commenced on a target date of 1 July 2015, following the installation and commissioning of new pay-and-display machines;

(3) That capital and revenue budget estimates in 2015/16 be agreed for the following improvement and enhancement works in the Council-owned Car Parks:

(a) £100,000 capital allocation for the purchase of new pay-and-display machines, ‘smart’ meters;

(b) £15,000 District Development Funding for the making of new traffic orders and installation of new information boards in the car parks;

(c) £ 100,000 capital allocation for the installation of new CCTV systems to ensure all car parks had full coverage; and

(d) a Continuing Services Budget growth bid in the sum of £26,670 in 2015/16, £5,280 in 2016/17 and £8,189 in 2017/18 be approved for the additional costs associated with the changes agreed above;

(4) That Contract Standing Order C1(10) be waived to instruct the North Essex Parking Partnership (NEPP) to carry out the necessary work associated with the introduction of the new tariff structure in the Council car parks; and

(5) That a Portfolio Holder Advisory Group be established to review the impact of the new Car Parking Strategy and to make recommendations for the future.

The Portfolio Holder for Safer, Greener & Transport presented a report concerning the Off-Street Car Parking Strategy and revised Tariff structure.

The Portfolio Holder advised that the consultation on the revised Off-Street Car Parking Strategy, requested by the Cabinet in March 2014, had closed on 31 July 2014. The consultation was carried out to get a better understanding of car park usage and public opinion. Proposals included the provision of differing tariffs for different locations, priority in parking to some users over others, and charging for parking based on demand. The consultation was open to all members of the public as the Council was keen to seek views from residents, visitors, workers, businesses and commuters. In addition to the on-line questionnaire, the Council had engaged the services of Alpha Parking Limited, who carried out face to face surveys, at random, in all Council car parks. A total of 800 people participated in the survey; 500 of those took part in face to face interviews and 300 of whom completed online questionnaires. Unfortunately participation from the business community was very low, despite a number of targeted promotional activities, with only five returns.

The Portfolio Holder reported that pressure on Council car parks continued to grow from commuters, workers and shoppers. Availability of short stay parking space was essential for the vitality of high streets and town centres, and in order to balance the competing demands of various users careful consideration was required before any tariff change was introduced. It was for this reason that in Waltham Abbey and Ongar where there was negligible pressure from commuters, the only increase proposed was from 10p to 20p for 30 minutes parking. Free parking on weekends in the month of December would continue. A charge of £1 for all day parking on weekends and Bank Holidays would be introduced to recognise the high level of investment and the quality of the Council’s car parks. However, in order to facilitate local shopping, free parking would be limited to the first 2 hours.

The Portfolio Holder added that investment in ‘smart' meters would benefit car parks users and enable better operational management. The installation of new CCTV systems and the physical improvement works would make the car parks safer. The establishment of a Portfolio Holder Advisory Group would enable the impact of the new Off-Street Car Parking Strategy to be reviewed and would recommend further revisions to improve the operation of the Council’s car parks.

The issue of all-day parking by residents who then caught the train to shop at the Westfield Shopping Centre in Stratford was highlighted. It was felt that the Council car parks should give priority to residents who shopped with local businesses, and that shoppers for the Westfield Shopping Centre should use the Station car parks provided. The Portfolio Holder hoped that this issue would be examined by the Advisory Group, but reassured the Cabinet that the intention of the Strategy would be to provide an incentive for residents to park and use local shops.

A number of Members highlighted problems with the signage for the car parks across the District. The Portfolio Holder acknowledged that signage was very important and it had been inadequate in the past. The signage was due to be refurbished in July 2015, and it was hoped that the situation would be much improved subsequently. The Portfolio Holder also confirmed that the cost of the additional enforcement measures arsing from the Strategy had been budgeted for.

The Finance Portfolio Holder, who was a local member for Waltham Abbey High Beach, welcomed the retention of free parking in Waltham Abbey at weekends, as this would encourage the trade of local businesses. A local Member for Loughton Roding raised concerns about the £1 charge for all-day parking on Saturdays being used by shop workers and not customers. The Portfolio Holder reassured the Cabinet that the Advisory Group would consider this issue, but highlighted the delicacy of the situation as shop workers also needed to park for the businesses to be open to trade. The Council-owned Car Parks were currently free for all-day parking on Saturdays and the Council had imposed a small incremental charge.

The Cabinet welcomed the installation of new smart meters to make it easier for customers to pay and CCTV to improve the safety of users, as well as the inclusion of the public car park at the Civic Offices for use by the public with appropriate charging whilst it was still free to use for visitors to the Civic Offices. A local Member for Chipping Ongar, Greensted and Marden Ash highlighted the parking problems experienced in Ongar when there was a Railway or Sporting event taking place. The Portfolio Holder reassured the Cabinet that he was fully aware of the problems outlined by the local Member.

A local Member for Chigwell Village noticed that the charge for staying longer than 3 hours in a short stay car park had remained at £10 and suggested that if this was increased to £15 or £20 then it would further deter long stay parking in the short stay car parks. The Portfolio Holder stated that the Advisory Group would consider further measures to deter long stay parking in short stay car parks, and this would be examined again.

A local member for Epping Hemnall enquired as to why the free parking period on Saturdays could not be three hours rather than the proposed two hours in Epping, as this would further benefit local businesses in the town. The Portfolio Holder responded that the free parking period on Saturdays, whether two or three hours, was a matter of judgement. The Advisory Group would be empowered to consider any or all options for off-street parking within the District.

Decision: