Issue - meetings

A report setting out proposals for changes to the provision of Pay and Display machines across the county.

Cabinet Portfolio Holder – Councillor Jan Matecki

This report was introduced by Councillor Jan Matecki, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning, who explained that on-street parking charges should be comparable to or higher than off-street parking. However, since 2018 on-street parking had not increased to a comparable level, so this report sought approval to raise on-street parking charges in the defined locations to £1.40 per hour to redress this issue, a sum which was below inflation.  Approval for an annual review and adjustment of prices was also sought together with a review of parking restrictions.  Councillor Matecki explained that the result would be an improved experience for shoppers and improved air quality in towns.

Councillor John Holland noted that this was a sensitive topic and shared his experience of aligning different parking needs in town centres to meet the different needs of residents with permits, business customers requiring on street parking and employees who needed to park all day utilising car parks.

Councillor Isobel Seccombe reflected on her experiences with seeking to ensure that on street parking was cheaper than off street parking to deter people driving around looking for a cheap space, and providing only short stay car parks in towns with park and ride services.  She considered it was important to implement a clear policy and set of principles that was workable for the various councils involved to create a more pleasant shopping experience.

Councillor Heather Timms commented on the use of park and ride facilitiesfor day tippers and the need to optimise their use through investment.

Councillor Andy Crump considered that the reasoning for the changes needed to be publicised.

Councillor Matecki explained that parking permit revenue was not currently covering the cost of running the scheme and that there were restrictions on how the revenue could be spent in any event. He pointed out the reduction in the cost of parking for 15 minutes and hoped this would be helpful to businesses which needed space for customers attending for short visits.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

1.        Approves the increase of on-street charges in Leamington, Warwick, Kenilworth, Stratford and Rugby as set out at paragraphs 4.3 and 4.4 of the report, subject to completion of the required statutory process'.

2.        Requests the Executive Director for Communities in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning to undertake an annual review of the on-street Pay and Display charges that considers the District and Borough off-street pricing structures.

3.        Requests the Executive Director for Communities in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning to undertake a review of the existing on-street Pay and Display hours of restriction to create a more consistent and simplified model across the town centres, and authorises the Executive Director for Communities to take such steps and to make any changes as are necessary to achieve such a model subject to the completion of the required statutory process.