Agenda item

Ongoing review of the Council’s Car Park assets and charging structure in accordance with the Off-Street Parking Strategy and associated Action Plan.

[20 Minutes]

          Upon the invitation of the Chair, the Group Head of Technical Services presented the report. River Road car park in Arundel had 14 spaces, and was around 50 metres from the larger Crown Yard Car Park. Prior to the closure, River Road car park operated as a seasonal permit car park only. It closed on 31 July 2023 to provide full access to the Environment Agency to enable them to carry out repairs to the river wall as part of the flood defence work. The Environment Agency had indicated that they expected to retain occupation of the car park until approximately mid-September 2024. In accordance with the Council’s financial and car parking strategies, Officers had undertaken a review of its use. It had been identified that as a result of operating for seasonal permit use only, River Road car park generated just 7.6% income per bay of the neighbouring Crown Yard pay & display car park for the same period. A series of options had been consulted upon, and the Officer recommendation was to introduce a combination of both pay & display and leased bays, with effect from when the Environment Agency vacated the site. 10 spaces within the car park would become pay & display, while 4 spaces would be offered for lease.

          The Item had been deferred from the previous meeting to allow Members to visit the car park and look at the concerns raised by Arundel Town Council, which were around making the road dangerous. The highway authority had been consulted and did not raise any objections. Arundel Town Council had also raised concerns about the estimates for the income from the lease of bays being unrealistic, however Officers felt the only way to determine what was achievable was to test the market. This option was expected to increase revenue from £2k to over £30k, and was considered to strike a balance between the needs of the residents and visitors to the town.

          The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Huntley and seconded by Councillor Bower.

          Members then took part in a debate and the following points were raised:

• There was concern around pay & display spaces, as particularly in the summertime, people may be trying to find spaces and have to turn around.
• The report stated that the enforcement should be rigorously policed which was felt to be unrealistic. The Group Head of Technical Services explained that the Council would act consistently with regards to enforcement across all Arun car parks.
• It was asked whether the revenue that would be achieved through the sale of the site could be looked into. The Group Head of Technical Services explained that a review of the Council’s assets would take time.
• It was asked whether more spaces be allocated as leased bays if they proved popular. The Group Head of Technical Services explained that any such decision would be brought to Committee.
• There was concern that consultants had been employed to assist with this. Officers confirmed the fee paid to the consultants was a fairly modest sum in relation to the cost of some consultants.
• It was asked how much the leased bays were expected to achieve. The Group Head of Technical Services explained that an exercise would be carried out to achieve the best price. Crown Yard car park obtained roughly £2.5k per space per annum, so a figure less than this would not be accepted.

The Committee

RESOLVED that

1)      A combination of both pay & display and leased bays be introduced, with effect from when the Environment Agency vacate the site known as River Road car park, Arundel. 10 spaces within the car park would become pay & display, while 4 spaces would be offered for lease.

2)   Authority be delegated to the Group Head of Technical Services to determine and implement the required amendments to the Parking Order.

3)   Authority be delegated to the Group Head of Technical Services to determine the required terms and conditions within the leases and the appropriate methods of advertisement and sale.