Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Service Manager Community Safety & Enforcement.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 9 March 2017 and its comments will be reported.

The Service Manager Community Safety & Enforcement presented the report on increasing both car park tariffs and the number of pay and display parking sites from June 2017.

The Portfolio Holder for Economy commented that this increase was in line with the approved budget. The parking charges within Exeter had fallen behind other cities but were still comparatively low. The impact of the increase would be monitored.

Members welcomed the return of the Station Road car park at Exwick to City Council control.

Place Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 9 March 2017 and its comments were reported.

RESOLVED thatthe following be approved:-

(1)       tariffs at Premium, Zone 1 and Zone 2 car parks be increased by 10% within the existing  linear pricing structure as set out in the table below but retain the existing all day tariff to encourage visitor dwell time:-

(2)       the following additional car parks be included in the Parking Places Order 2014:

            (a) Flowerpot (Appendix 1)

            (b)  Station Road (Exwick) (Appendix 2) and

            (c)  Clifton Hill (Appendix 3)

            by way of pay and display

(3)       the following car parks be designated as Zone 3 Car Parks as set out in paragraph 2.1 above table in the Parking Places Order 2014:

          (a) Flowerpot,

            (b)  Station Road (Exwick) and

            (c)  Clifton Hill

(4)       parking to a maximum 3 hour stay be restricted at the new Clifton Hill and Station Road (Exwick) car parks.

To consider the report of the Service Manager Community Safety & Enforcement.

The Service Manager Community Safety & Enforcement presented a report which proposed an increase of car park tariffs and the number of Pay and Display parking sites, which would take effect from June 2017. He stated that parking charges within Exeter had fallen behind other cities and there had been a rise in overheads, in part, to facilitate credit and debit cards, along with mobile phone payment charges.  Increased tariff charges would negate the need to introduce a separate surcharge and cover these additional costs. The report also sought to reduce an anomaly in parking provision by operating all pay and display sites in-house under a Parking Places Order. He referred to the City Council’s ambitious plans to reduce congestion in the city, and a reasonable pricing policy would support these objectives. The detail of the projected recommended tariff increase, which could raise an additional £680,000 income per annum, was based on historical ticket data, and assumptions on changes to parking patterns resulting from the new charging structure, was attached as an appendix to the report.

A Member referred to the increase in parking fees which could result in some inconvenience with change being sought for parking, and what impact the introduction of the new 12 sided pound coin would have on the City Council’s parking machines.  The Services Manager Community Safety & Enforcement stated that the existing car parking machines would be re-calibrated.  He also stated that the three main car parks of Mary Arches Street, John Lewis and the Guildhall were all Pay-On-Foot car parks and gave change on exit from the car park.   Other pay and display car parking machines did not give change, but credited any overpayment with additional time for parking.

A Member also commented on the fee attracted by the level of card transactions in 2016/17, and gave an example of a similar charge for transactions by text for the Pay and Display Car Park in Bampfylde Street and he sought clarification whether such charges could be made under the Parking Places Order. He also referred to a parking enforcement issue, which had involved Premier Parking at the Flowerpots and Station Road, (Exwick) car parks which had been resolved, but was concerned about other areas where the parking enforcement was still managed by Premier Parking, referring to sites at Mincinglake Valley Park Road and Haven Banks. He commended the City Council for taking the Flowerpots, Station Road (Exwick) and Clifton Hill car parks back into the operation of the City Council and hoped that the City Council had taken the appropriate advice before the implementation of the Parking Places Order. He enquired if there was any repercussion from terminating the arrangement. The Service Manager Community Safety & Enforcement responded to the Member’s questions and stated that the levy imposed for text messages in respect of pay by phone was made by the company facilitating that service and the current Parking Places Order accounted for payment by card or phone. The Corporate Manager Legal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17