Issue - meetings

This report seeks to identify funding for a pay and display interim option at Hook Road Car Park or for the Committee to opt for a RingGo solution only.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Proceed with Option 1, as identified in Section 4 of the report.

The Committee received a report seeking to identify funding for a pay and display interim option at Hook Road Car Park or for the Committee to opt for a RingGo solution only.

The Committee considered the following matters:

a)            Costs Associated with Option 1 of the Report. In response to a Member, the Parking Manager stated that, of the three options presented in the report, option 1 for Ringo only, would incur the least cost to the Council in terms of installation of the payment machines and administration of payments. He explained that, regardless of which option was decided, the entry/exit barriers would need to be removed, with alternative speed restriction measures being put in place.

b)            Income Implications of a Cashless Car Park. The Committee noted that, excluding permit-holders, 81% of Hook Road car park users currently paid by card. The Committee considered the implications of the potential loss of income from the 19% who currently paid by cash, should the Committee opt for a Ringo only option. The Parking Manager stated that it was estimated that Hook Road car park would not see a substantial reduction in income, and predicted that many of the 19% would transition to the new payment method.

c)            Alternative Car Parks for Cash Payers. In response to a Member, the Parking Manager stated that, should the Committee opt for the Ringo only option, people who wish to pay cash would be able to use Depot Road and Upper High Street car parks, which were priced comparably with Hook Road car park. He stated that both car parks, although popular, would have ample capacity to accommodate additional users in the event that the 19% of Hook Road car park users who pay cash displace to those car parks.

d)            Ringo Car Park Charges. Following a question from a Member, the Parking Manager confirmed that, should the Committee opt for a Ringo only option, the charge for the car park would be agreed by the Committee as usual, with Ringo adding a 20p on top for use of their service. The Chair stated that the Car Park Working Group would be meeting next month to discuss car park charges.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)      Proceed with Option 1, as identified in Section 4 of the report.