Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director for Net Zero Exeter & City Management.

Agreed:

RESOLVED that the Car Park Places Order 2014 be amended as follows:-

(1)   to change the zoning of a number of City Centre car parks;

(2)   to change the ‘Premium’ zone to ‘Central’;

(3)   to extend the charge period from 8am - 6pm to 8am - 10pm for all Central and Zone 1 Car Parks, and for Car parks located in Topsham from 9am - 5pm to 8am - 6pm;

(4)   to increase the fee to purchase a seasonal parking permits and increase the number of city centre car parks that accept a seasonal parking permits;

(5)   to increase the fee to purchase a discounted business and residential parking permit;

(6)   to charge for events held in City Council car parks;

(7)   to introduce a fee for electricity use through Electric Vehicle charge points in City Council car parks;

(8)   to charge owners of electric vehicles that qualify for a residential parking permits; and

(9)   to set aside £72,000 from the additional income for maintenance and improvements to city centre car parks and carbon reduction measures.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

The Executive received the report on the proposed amendments under the Parking Places Order to improve the regulation of Council car parks and to support the aims of reducing traffic congestion and addressing the goal of a carbon neutral Exeter by 2030.

The recommendations in the report were developed and researched as part of the One Exeter programme and it was anticipated that they would support generating an annual income of over £10 Million to the Council. This would include sales from existing daily car park tickets, parking permits, Penalty Charge Notices and rental income. As part of the proposed changes, what the parking fees funded would be presented to customers of the car park.

Members noted that car parking had not recovered to pre-Covid figures, with some commuters still working from home, either full time or part time, which would have a longer term impact on car parking across the city. However, footfall in the city had increased by 0.1% from the 2019 figures.

Particular reference was made to the income being set aside for maintenance and a schedule of work to improve the look of car parks, safety and carbon reduction was being undertaken. Members also noted that body cameras for the enforcement team would be purchased through the Shared Prosperity Fund.

The next stage of work would be focussed on the implementation of the car parking strategy review to encourage the use of electric vehicles and decarbonising car parks. Work would also begin on attaining a Parking Places Order.

The Director Net Zero and City Management expressed his thanks to the Service Lead Net Zero & Business for the work undertaken and the consistent approach taken.

Councillor D. Moore, as an opposition group leader, spoke on this item. She sought clarification on the charge periods outlined in the report.

The Leader advised that the chart outlined in the report was the correct charge period.

During the discussion the following points were raised:-

·        advertising what the car parking fees contributed to the city would be welcomed by residents;

·        the report was welcomed and added a fresh approach to car parking, notably the allocation of money to improve security and cleansing of car parks; and

·        the report moved car parks away from premium car parks and zoning additional car parks centrally would also support reducing the number of vehicles in the city centre whilst improving the footfall figures.

RESOLVED that the Car Park Places Order 2014 be amended as follows:-

(1)   to change the zoning of a number of City Centre car parks;

(2)   to change the ‘Premium’ zone to ‘Central’;

(3)   to extend the charge period from 8am - 6pm to 8am - 10pm for all Central and Zone 1 Car Parks, and for Car parks located in Topsham from 9am - 5pm to 8am - 6pm;

(4)   to increase the fee to purchase a seasonal parking permits and increase the number of city centre car parks that accept a seasonal parking permits;

(5)   to increase the fee to purchase a discounted business and residential parking permit;

(6)   to charge for events held in City Council car parks;

(7)   to introduce a fee for electricity use through Electric Vehicle charge points in City Council car parks;

(8)   to charge owners of electric vehicles that qualify for a residential parking permits; and

(9)   to set aside £72,000 from the additional income for maintenance and improvements to city centre car parks and carbon reduction measures.