Issue - meetings

This report seeks the agreement of the Committee for the recommended off street parking fees and charges for 2023/24, as proposed by the Car Park Working Group.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Agree the car park fees in appendix 1, as proposed by the Car Park Working Group;

(2)          Agree the car park permit fees in appendix 2, as proposed by the Car Park Working Group.

The Committee received a report seeking the agreement of the Committee for the recommended off street parking fees and charges for 2023/24, as proposed by the Car Park Working Group.

Councillor Steven McCormick became present at the meeting at 19:45 during consideration of the item. He did not take part in the debate.

The following matters were considered by the Committee:

a)            Car Park Charges: A Member of the Committee (and Member of the Car Park Working Group) highlighted the importance of Car Parks as a source of income for the Council and explained that certain car parks’ charges are set at higher rates in order to encourage greater use of car parks in areas of the borough that would benefit from increased footfall. The Chair offered his thanks to the Car Park Working Group for their work.

b)            Publication of Car Park Charges: The Parking Manager confirmed that notices of variation of car park charges are published in the local paper, Epsom Comet.

c)            West Hill Car Park: A Member of the Committee (and Member of the Car Park Working Group) explained that West Hill car park is very busy and used regularly for overnight parking, and was considered by the working group to be a significant opportunity to create income for the Council.

d)            Upper High Street Annual Permits: In relation to the ‘Car Park Fees and Charges, Appendix 2 – Additional Information: Car Park Permit Proposal 2023/24’, the Parking Manager explained that the annual permit will not provide an absolute guarantee of a space for permit holders due to the limited spaces in the Upper High Street car park. He suggested that 40 permits as a maximum could be a reasonable amount to issue, but stated that he did not expect the number of applications to reach that high. The Chair suggested that marking out designated spaces for permit holders could cause a potential loss of income for the Council due to the resulting reduction in parking spaces available to daytime shoppers. The Chair stated that the scheme will remain open to review by the Car Park Working Group and the Committee, and that the Committee will be notified of the number of permits sold once the scheme goes live.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Agree the car park fees in appendix 1, as proposed by the Car Park Working Group;

(2)          Agree the car park permit fees in appendix 2, as proposed by the Car Park Working Group.

Councillor Steven McCormick did not take part in the vote.