Agenda item

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets, on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Local Economy, reminded Cabinet that, in October 2011, the Council had approved a strategy for town centre car parks.  One of the objectives of this strategy was to ensure funds were available to invest in Town Centre car parks in order to be able to provide a quality user experience for shoppers and visitors and for funds to be reinvested back into parking infrastructure.

The provision of car parking was a discretionary service.  In order to continue funding on-going improvements and recover running and operating costs it was necessary to generate sufficient revenue that could be reinvested back into car parks and contribute towards the Council’s Mid-Term Financial Strategy.

The number of motorists now using the town centre multi-storey car parks on a Sunday and Bank Holidays meant it was no longer viable for them to be unmanned.  In order to cover staffing costs the introduction of a Sunday and Bank Holiday tariff throughout Horsham town was therefore proposed.  It was noted that Sunday parking charges had been introduced in most peer towns.

Staffing the car parks on Sundays and Bank Holidays would also enable the Council to operate the Shopmobility service, to undertake parking enforcement of dangerous and unsafe parking and to assist with town events.

Approval was therefore sought for the introduction of Sunday and Bank Holiday (off-street) car parking charges in Horsham town car parks.

It was noted that Horsham Unlimited (a partnership of town centre businesses) was not supportive of the proposal as part of their marketing of Horsham’s unique offer was the availability of free parking on Sundays.  Also, Horsham Denne Neighbourhood Council did not support the proposed changes as they were concerned about the possible impact on on-street car parking.  If approved, the relevant Parking Orders would be subject to a further period of consultation.

Members’ comments included considerable support for the proposal, particularly in view of the usage statistics which indicated that the number of cars per hour using the multi-storey car parks on a Sunday were comparable with those on Saturdays.  It was also noted that many visitors now expected to pay for parking on Sundays as this was the norm in many other areas and there was a need for staff to be present to manage service as it was increasingly perceived as a normal trading day.

Comments in opposition to the proposal included the likely increase of the charge in future years; the impact on church-goers who currently benefitted from free parking on Sundays; the possible impact on residents close to the town centre who might be affected by an increase in on-street parking on Sundays; and a possible reduction in the number of visitors to the town on Sundays if a charge was introduced.

                        RESOLVED

(i)         That the introduction of Sunday and Bank Holiday parking charges at a £1.50 flat fee from 1^st April 2016 in all Horsham town surface and multi-storey car parks be approved.

(ii)        That the Parking Services Manager be authorised to give appropriate notice of any revised charges pursuant to the Off-street Parking Places Order 2015 and the Road Traffic Act 1984.

Note: Councillor Philip Circus requested that his abstention from this vote be recorded.

                        REASONS  

(i)         Given that parking demand on Sundays is almost at a similar level to that of Saturdays, it is necessary to manage car parking in the town and the charge will finance the extra costs of providing this service.

(ii)        The multi storey and surface town centre car parks require considerable capital investment and over the past  six years up to 2014/15  the council has spent £1.45m on  enhancing car parking infrastructure, with an additional £1.093m budgeted for 2015/16 and 2016/17.

(iii)       Over the years the Council has been moving to a "user pays" approach to the provision of discretionary services and this proposal fits with this philosophy.