| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| MATTERS FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE CABINET | ||
| CPK 11/003 |
Car Parking Fees Charges and Operations - Annual Review |
The joint report of the Director of Planning, Transport and Leisure and the Director of Finance considered all current and potential charging streams and, through a careful balance of considerations of parking management objectives, support for the local economy and the need to realise a proper rate of return for the assets used and services provided, recommended a series of proposed tariffs which were summarised in the report. It was noted that the Borough Council regularly reviewed its fees and charges for services provided for the local community and this generally took place on an annual cycle. In 2010, there had been no review of parking charges because it was considered that the condition of the local economy merited leaving the cost of parking in the Borough entirely unchanged. Therefore, this 2011 review was the first one for two years. It was also noted that the charge for the first hour in car parks in Tonbridge had not been increased since 2008. The factors that provided a direct context for the review were set out in the report and included the recognition of continuous investment and improvement of the car parks and the management of the on-street service. Other contextual issues included the effect of inflation, the VAT increase to 20%, car park usage levels and driver compliance with parking restrictions. Particular reference was made to the continuation of the current policy of no charges in the early morning, evenings, overnight, Sundays and Public Holidays and this was welcomed by Members. The quality of the report was commended by Members as it demonstrated a well balanced, measured and pragmatic approach. Careful consideration was given to a range of issues surrounding Resident Preferential Parking Permits, the introduction of charges into Borough Green car park and the introduction of a new half hourly tariff in car parks in Tonbridge. Members supported the proposals outlined as the review was firmly set in a context of considerable and continuing investment in the parking management service. In addition, the proposals had paid considerable attention to local economic and social circumstances and sought to achieve a best balance between parking management objectives and a proper and fair rate of return for the service. Members suggested that residents be informed by notice boards at the Country Parks that the money raised by car park charges was reinvested into improvements and maintenance. This idea was supported as it provided a useful way of highlighting where income was being invested. RECOMMENDED: That (1) the schedule of tariffs for short and long stay parking in Tonbridge, shown in Table 1 and 2 of the report, be introduced; (2) a new half hour charging band, as shown in Table 1 of the report, be introduced; (3) the option of short stay parking in the long stay car parks by extending the current weekend pricing arrangement to weekdays be offered; (4) the current special pricing structure for Saturdays in Lower Castle Field car park, subject to the proposed charges set out in Table 2 of the report, be retained; (5) the schedule of season ticket prices, shown in Table 3 of the report, be adopted; (6) the schedule of tariffs for Borough Green car park, shown in Table 4 of the report, be introduced; (7) the season ticket prices for Borough Green car park, shown in Table 5 of the report, be adopted; (8) the schedule of tariffs for Blue Bell Hill car park, shown in Table 6 of the report, be introduced; (9) the cost of an annual resident preferential parking (RPP) permit be set at £35 from April 2012; (10) the cost of a visitor permit be retained at £1 and the provision of ten free visitor permits when an RPP permit is issued or renewed be continued; (11) the price of an annual business permit be increased to £130; (12) the schedule of prices for Haysden and Leybourne Lakes country parks, shown in Table 7 of the report, be introduced; (13) the schedule of tariffs for on-street parking in Tonbridge, shown in Table 8 of the report, be introduced; and (14) a special season ticket for resident use at each end of the charging period be introduced at an annual cost of £240. *Referred to Cabinet |