Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the head of IT, HR and technical services. 

Cabinet considered the report of the head of HR, IT, and technical services.  This sought Cabinet’s views on whether to increase car parking fees and charges in 2015/16 and set out options to do so. 

The car park pricing policy balanced the requirement for users to meet the costs of the car parks, with the need for charges to be economically viable having regard to the impact they had on the local economy.  With this in mind and the fact that the costs were being covered, Cabinet agreed not to increase fees and charges for 2015/16. 

Cabinet recalled that the council offered a half day free parking on one day in December to encourage Christmas shopping locally.  The Cabinet member responsible for the car parking service proposed that this should be increased to a whole day free parking.  Cabinet agreed.  The local communities should be asked which was the most appropriate day. 

Cabinet discussed concessions for low emission vehicles and concluded that this should be considered over the course of the following year, after the air quality action plan had been adopted.  The Cabinet member also agreed to investigate encouraging use of out of town car parks. 

RESOLVED: to make no increase to the car park fees and charges in 2015/16 but to increase the free parking one day in December from half a day to a whole day to encourage local Christmas shopping.