Agenda item

Report ES15001

Following a review of parking charges across the borough in line with the Parking Strategy agreed in 2012, and benchmarked against inflation, changes to on and off-street parking fees were recommended, along with changes to the resident parking scheme.

Details of proposed changes to parking charges were outlined at Appendix 1 to Report ES15001.

In March 2012, parking permit charges were standardised in all but the following areas of the borough:

·  Bromley town centre Zone AB

·  Bromley town centre Zone AC

·  Camden Grove, Chislehurst

·  Farnborough Village

·  Ledrington

·  Burnt Ash Lane (G)

For these remaining areas, Report ES15001 recommended that residential permit charges be brought into line with other residential and business parking permits at £80 to reflect full-day enforcement.

As a concession, residents over age 60 were also entitled to apply for two free books of visitor vouchers per annum. However, as carer’s permits are provided at a discounted rate, the need for free vouchers is reduced. Parking Services staff also use discretion in dealing with short term issues. As such the PDS Parking Working Group recommended that the entitlement to free books of Visitor Vouchers for over 60s should cease from 1^st April 2015.

No other permit related price increase was proposed at the current time and a full list of permits with current and proposed charges was outlined at Appendix 2 to Report ES15001.

Further to introducing online permit applications/renewals and online purchase of visitor vouchers last year, it was proposed to introduce Virtual Permits from 1^st April 2015. Enforcement would be achievable without display of a windscreen ‘permit’, reliance instead being placed on use of the Vehicle Registration Mark.

Although no increase in permit charges was proposed at present, a full review of permit parking and financial analysis was recommended (including visitor vouchers) within 12 months, the findings being reported back to the Committee.  

Although it was difficult to assess whether the proposed increase in parking charges might affect the number of visitors to town centres, a decline in visitor numbers might be expected for the first one or two years of the new charges. It was suggested that the proposed increase represented a good balance; if raised higher, the increase could present further problems. The proposed charges compared well with high streets in neighbouring boroughs and other parking providers in the borough.

The Chairman highlighted the latest national projections for economic growth. The likelihood would be that the demand for parking in the borough’s high street would increase. The increase in charges should therefore meet the challenge for parking supply by maintaining a turnover in parking spaces rather than discourage visitors. The increase would not only cover inflation since before the financial downturn but would also take account of projected inflation to 2016/17. The increase would also help to meet costs for updating parking machines and signs. Charges had not increased since 2012. 

The Portfolio Holder also referred to the local economy indicating that the on-street charges had been proposed for traffic management reasons, Council’s not being permitted to raise income from on-street charges. It was however permissible for Councils to use revenue from off street parking to help cover costs associated with other transport measures e.g. Freedom Passes.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to agree:

(1)  the proposed parking charges set out at Appendix 1 to Report ES15001 with effect from 1^st April 2015;

(2)  the following changes to the resident permit parking scheme effective from 1^st April 2015 -

·  revised charges for the six areas highlighted at Appendix 2 to Report ES15001

·   the introduction of virtual permits from 1^st April 2015

·   cessation of the entitlement to free books of Visitor Vouchers for the over 60s;

(3) that a review of the impact of revised parking and permit charges be undertaken after 12 months; and

(4)  that the Executive Director of Environment & Community Services be authorised to agree with the Portfolio Holder minor changes to parking charges to address local priorities.