Agenda item

Annual review of the Council’s Car Park fees in accordance with the Off-Street Parking Strategy and allied service development proposals.

[30 Minutes]

Upon the invitation of the Chair, the Group Head of Technical Services introduced the report to Committee. He explained The Off-Street Parking Strategy 2021-2026 set out that the Council would review the charges annually. Inflation over the last 12 months had been running at around 10%, Consequently, three car parking fee options had been prepared from which the Committee was asked to select one. Option A delivered the smallest increase in revenue for the Council, which had been achieved by increasing fees overall by 5%, and represented a below inflation increase and thus a real term cut in income. Option C delivered the highest increase in revenue, with higher increases across all fees. This had been based on inflation plus 5%, for a 15% increase in fees overall. Option B delivered a medium increase in revenue, with fees increasing broadly in line with inflation, which was the recommended option, and would prevent the Council’s income reducing in real terms. He then went onto explain the other recommendations.

         Councillor Blanchard-Cooper proposed an amendment to the Officer recommendations, which was to add an additional proposed amendment to the Parking Order under recommendation 2, as follows:

2.3e. To change West Green car park tariff banding to replace reference to 3 hours with 4 hours. 

          Councillor Blanchard-Cooper explained current parking times restricted the use of the Harvester restaurant and Windmill Theatre, and this change would be more suitable when these facilities were back in use.

          This amendment was seconded by Councillor Warr.

          Councillor Greenway raised a Point of Order asking whether the substantive recommendations should be proposed and seconded before an amendment could be made. The Committee Manager advised that in Committee it was often the case that amendments be made to the Officer recommendations prior to the substantive recommendations being proposed and seconded, however if Members wanted to Move the recommendations prior to amendments being put forward, this would also be acceptable.

          Following the opportunity being given to debate the amendment, it was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

          Councillor Elkins proposed an amendment to recommendation 2.6 as follows (deletions are shown in strikethrough):

2.6    The development of a plan for improving and introducing fees to the car park to the rear of the Bluebird Café, Ferring Rife, Ferring.

          Councillor Elkins explained that the matter of introducing fees had been raised over a number of years. It was a very popular location, and had mixed ownerships and was often flooded with an enormous amount of water. Councillor Elkins felt the existing wording implied it was a prerequisite that fees would be introduced, and he felt this should not be the case.

          This amendment was seconded by Councillor Bower.

The Interim Chief Executive Officer and Director of Growth suggested that Councillor Elkins consider rewording his amendment to (additions shown in bold):

2.6      The development of a plan for improving and introducing fees to the car park to the rear of the Bluebird Café, Ferring Rife, Ferring, and to report the outcome of these investigations to Committee for further consideration. 

Councillor Elkins was happy with these changes to the amendment, but felt strongly the word ‘consider’ in relation to introducing fees, should be included. With the agreement of the seconder, the amendment was therefore altered to (additions shown in bold):

2.6      The development of a plan for improving and consider introducing fees to the car park to the rear of the Bluebird Café, Ferring Rife, Ferring, and to report the outcome of these investigations to Committee for further consideration. 

Debate was opened on the amendment and support was offered for this. One Member was concerned about the linkage between introducing fees and paying for the improvements to the car park. The Interim Chief Executive Officer and Director of Growth explained investigations had not yet been conducted and ownership had not yet been looked into, therefore they were not yet aware of the costings of improvements and so were not currently in a position to look at how this would be funded.

Upon taking the vote, the amendment was declared CARRIED.

Returning to the substantive, the Chair invited Members to debate and ask questions on the recommendations.

It was asked whether further information could be circulated to Committee regarding paragraph 4.14, the solar canopy for Mewsbrook car park. The Group Head of Technical Services explained they were looking for approval to develop a proposal, it would then be brought back to Committee.

One Member felt that increasing car park charges would not support the needs of businesses, workers, shoppers, commuters, and visitors. There was concern no usage report of the car parks was included in the report, and he felt that Option B rise was too high and would increase higher than inflation. Reassurance was sought that the new pay and display machines used by Arun would allow for periods of less than 2 hours to be purchased. The Group Head of Technical Services explained that this was correct regarding the parking machines, and the Parking Services Review would address the concerns around the usage information.

The Committee gave their permission for a non-Committee Member to speak. It was requested that Committee exclude the car park in Middleton-On-Sea from recommendation 2.3. It was felt Arun could establish user data in a cheaper and more user-friendly way. The car park was extremely well used and did not suffer from long-stayers or abandoned vehicles. The Parish Council wanted to encourage use of the car park and it was felt this may have the opposite effect. There were also concerns that charges may be required for this at some point in the future if ticket machines were installed. The Group Head of Technical Services explained that the car parks would remain free under the proposals.

Clarification was sought on the free tickets. The Group Head of Technical Services explained users would be obliged to obtain a free ticket from the machine. The purpose of this was to gather data on the usage of the car park and also to enable enforcement of long-staying and abandoned vehicles. He pointed out that Felpham Parish Council, where two of the car parks were situated, had confirmed their support for the installation of the machines.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Worne and seconded by Councillor Wallsgrove.

          The Committee

RESOLVED that

1.       Parking fee option B be introduced with effect from 01 April 2024. 

2.       Authority be delegated to the Group Head of Technical Services to advertise, consider representation and determine the following proposed amendments to the Parking Order: 

a. To agree the redefinition of all short and long stay car parks as ‘town centre’ car parks. 

b. To agree to the addition of Eldon Way car park to Arun District Council’s Parking Order and the associated charging tariff as set out in Appendix1. 

c. To agree the installation of parking ticket machines within the three free car parks operated in partnership with Middleton-On-Sea and Felpham Parish Councils. 

d. To agree the cessation of refunds issued for the cancellation of virtual parking permits for Arun District Council car parks. 

e. To change West Green car park tariff banding to replace reference to 3 hours with 4 hours. 

3.       Authority be delegated to the Group Head of Technical Services to introduce and revise annually an administration fee for road closures based on the cost recovery principal. 

4.       A feasibility assessment for the installation of a solar canopy in Mewsbrook car park, be undertaken. 

5.       The development of a plan for improving and to consider introducing fees to the car park to the rear of the Bluebird Café, Ferring Rife, Ferring, and to report the outcome of these investigations to Committee for further consideration. 

6.       A Parking Services Review be commissioned, and its scope as set out in paragraphs 4.17 – 4.30.