Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval from the Committee for officers to procure a service provider to continue to offer cashless parking options within Epsom & Ewell Borough Council’s pay and display car parks.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Agree to the procurement of a long term service provider to offer cashless parking within Borough Council car parks.

(2)          Authorise the Head of Housing and Environment and the Head of Corporate Assurance, in conjunction with the Chair of the Environment & Safe Communities Committee, to procure a cashless parking service provider.

The Committee received a report seeking approval from the Committee for officers to procure a service provider to continue to offer cashless parking options within the Epsom & Ewell Borough Council’s pay and display car parks.

The Committee received a verbal introduction from the Parking Manager.  It was noted that since September 2019, a cashless parking system was introduced in the Borough Council’s pay and display car parks in addition to Council’s own offering of payment by cash or card.  It was also noted that in the financial year 2021/21, 27,6% of visitors to the car parks opted to pay using the cashless provider and that this figure had increased in the 2021/22 year (to date), to over 33,8% of car park users.

Noting further that the initial trial period of 2 years from September 2019 has come to an end, it has been proposed to secure a longer term offering to provide cashless parking and to secure a better financial return on the use of this service.

The following matters were raised by the Committee:

a)            Possible legal implications: it was confirmed that there are no legal implications that are anticipated will arise if the proposal is adopted.

b)            Duration of arrangement: it was confirmed that the “longer term offering” referred to in the report is intended to endure for a period of 3 years, whilst this period could be longer or shorter depending on procurement considerations.

c)            Financial implications for the EEBC: it was confirmed that the utilisation of a cashless service provider has no cost implications for the EEBC.  The current service provider takes a convenience fee, which is passed on to the user.  There are optional additional charges (for receiving a text message), which are also passed on to the user.  It was confirmed that these charges are clearly stated on the website and in the car parks.

d)            Current service provider:  it was confirmed that the EEBC will not necessarily continue the arrangement with the current service provider, depending on the outcome of the procurement process.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)          Agree to the procurement of a long term service provider to offer cashless parking within Borough Council car parks.

(2)          Authorise the Head of Housing and Community and the Head of Corporate Assurance, in conjunction with the Chair of the Environment & Safe Communities Committee, to procure a cashless parking service provider.