Issue - items at meetings - Parking Charges at Haysden Country Park

This report considers the objections and comments received during the statutory consultation period relating to proposed off-street parking charge changes at Haysden Country Park in Tonbridge

(Report of Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services)

The report set out proposals for changes to car parking tariffs in the Borough Council’s Haysden Country Park in Tonbridge. The proposed changes were outlined in the Formal Consultation Notice attached at Annex 1.

A number of objections and comments had been received during the statutory consultation period and these responses were set out in Annex 2.

Cabinet noted that the proposed changes were reviewed within the context of a set of guiding principles, the cost of the parking service to the Borough Council and ongoing investment in the parking management service. It was anticipated that the new charges would be introduced in late July 2023.

Careful consideration was given to the legal, financial and value for money implications and the responses to the public consultation were taken into account.

RESOLVED: That

(1) the objections to the proposed changes to the off-street parking charges (as detailed in Annex 2) be set aside; and

(2) the appropriate Traffic Regulation Order be approved to facilitate the variation of the off-street parking charges (as detailed in Annex 1 and summarised below) to come into effect as soon as possible:

· an increase of 20p (to £2.00) to the ‘up to 4 hour’ tariff

· an increase of 50p (to £4.50) for the ‘over 4 hour’ tariff

· an increase of £5 (up to £65) for 12 month car park season tickets

(Decision Notice D230049CAB)

The report of the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services set out proposals for changes to car parking tariffs in the Borough Council’s Haysden Country Park in Tonbridge. The proposed changes were outlined in the Formal Consultation Notice attached at Annex 1.

A number of objections and comments had been received during the statutory consultation period and these responses were set out in Annex 2.

Cabinet noted that the proposed changes were reviewed within the context of a set of guiding principles, the cost of the parking service to the Borough Council and ongoing investment in the parking management service. It was anticipated that the new charges would be introduced in late July 2023.

Finally, it was noted that the income received from car parking contributed to the operation of the Country Park and the value of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) at the site continued to be explored.