Issue - items at meetings - Parking Fees & Charges Update

Report of the Strategic Director, Place (copy attached).

That the Transport Committee agrees the proposed parking tariffs for 2013/2014 set out in the report as the basis for the advertisement of the necessary traffic orders.

54.1         The Committee considered a report of the Strategic Director, Place that outlined the proposed parking tariffs for 2013/14.

54.2         Councillor Cox noted that he wished for more information on the number of traders and business permits issued between 2011/12 and 2012/13.

54.3         The Policy & Development Manager apologised for not providing this information to Councillor Cox earlier. He clarified that approximately 600 traders permits were issued steadily each year until 2012/13. This number had now nearly doubled to 1080. 400 business permits were issued this year which demonstrated a similar, gradual rise as in previous years.

54.4         Councillor West stated that he interpreted the factual information provided in the report to be different to the public debate on the topic of parking. It demonstrated that the weather and rising price of fuel had had an impact and he believed the opposition parties’ conduct in the debate had not done the city justice.

54.5         Councillor Theobald stated that he was disappointed in the removal of the 3 hour tariff in the Laines Car Park and other areas to a 2 or 4 hour tariff. He believed people had been tricked into paying more as they would automatically choose a longer stay as a safety measure.

54.6         The Chair replied that some increased cost were necessary to pay back the £4 million loan for the re-development of the Trafalgar and Regency car parks agreed under the previous Conservative administration.

54.7         The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote with the following result.

54.8         RESOLVED- That the Transport Committee agrees the proposed parking tariffs for 2013/2014 set out in the report as the basis for the advertisement of the necessary traffic orders.

For: 5

Against: 1

Abstentions: 3