Car Parking

Report of the Planning Portfolio Holder

Recommended:

That the Council’s pay and display tariffs are reinstated with effect from 8 June 2020.

Except that, for a period of one month until 8 July 2020, the tariff charge for up to two hours continues to be waived in all of the Council’s pay and display car parks.

SUMMARY: This report considers the impact of COVID-19 on the Council’s Car Parking function in relation to the proposed easing of lockdown restrictions The proposals seek to strike a balance between support for town centres and the Council’s own financial constraints by introducing a transition period of continued free parking for shoppers of up to two hours until 8 July 2020.

Introduction

This report sets out proposals for the Council’s pay and display car parks in response to the gradual relaxation of lockdown arrangements related to Covid-19.

Background

As a direct consequence of the lockdown announcement made by the Prime Minister on 25 March, the council took the decision to suspend all parking charges in its car parks.

The restrictions on movements during this period meant that people should not have been using our town centre car parks unless it was absolutely essential for them to do so.

With the recent announcements regarding the easing of lockdown restrictions the Council needs to consider the position regarding car parking charges. Indications are that at present some shops in town centres will be able to reopen on 1 June 2020.

The Council’s financial resources have not been immune from the impact of Covid-19 and any proposals regarding the car parking charges will need to be considered in this context.

Corporate Objectives and Priorities

The measures imposed during lockdown in response to Covid-19 have had a very significant impact on town centres nationally. Supporting our town centres is one of the Council’s key corporate priorities. As these measures start to be relaxed, the Council has to weigh up the measures that may assist with their recovery and the Council’s own financial position and the demands upon our resources.

Options

Lockdown measures will not be switched off in their entirety in one fell swoop, resulting in our town centres springing back into life, just as they were prior to Covid -19. Instead there will be a gradual relaxing of lockdown measures with the possibility that these measures will be reinstated if infection rates start to climb.

The arrangements for the car parking charges need to be considered in this context, alongside other factors such as the financial implications for the Council of the ongoing suspension of car parking charges.

The easing of lockdown measures may lend itself to a transitory arrangement for car parking charges. Option 2 below reflects this transitory approach, seeking to balance supporting our town centres with an element of short stay free parking for an initial period to encourage footfall.

Option One – Reinstate all car parking charges from 8 June 2020

Option Two - Provide up to two hours free parking in town centre car parks for one month from 8 June 2020.

Option Appraisal

Option 1 - Reinstate all car parking charges from 8 June 2020

This option would see from the 8 June 2020 parking charges reinstated. The general public would be expected to pay to use of the Council’s car parks, across all the tariff ranges (see Appendix 1), in all Council car parks.

The suspension of car parking charges was introduced as a response to lockdown measures which included confining people to their homes. As these lockdown measures were extended on two successive occasions, the Council confirmed that the suspension of car parking charges was being continued for the same period and kept under review.

These lockdown measures are now being eased and people are able to leave their homes once again. The latest government guidance indicates that some shops in the town centres will be able to open for trading again with effect from 1 June. This reflects a change in the circumstances that led to the temporary suspension of car parking charges.

Under this option, the temporary suspension of car parking charges will come to an end on 8 June 2020, with charges reflecting the new tariffs recently agreed by Cabinet (Appendix 1).

Footfall into the town centre is likely to be significantly reduced when compared to pre Covid-19 measures and Option 2 below offers a transition arrangement to seek to encourage visits to the town centres as they gradually reopen for business.

Option 2 – Provide up to two hours free parking in town centre car parks for an initial period (recommended option)

This option proposes a transition arrangement from the current suspension of charges. This would see the tariff rate of up to two hours for £1.00 set for a majority of the Council’s car parks replaced with ‘no charge’ for a transitional one month period with effect from 8 June 2020.

This would encourage visits to the town centre shops that are reopening and, whilst complying with government guidelines for social distancing, allow sufficient time to queue for and make essential purchases.

The charges for longer stay parking would apply as usual from 8 June 2020.

There would be an additional budget pressure for the Council in offering an up to two hour free period for the one month period.

Risk Management

An evaluation of the risks associated with the matters in this report indicates that further risk assessment is not needed because the changes / issues covered do not represent significant risks.

Resource Implications

During the period relating to the suspension of car parking charges, the Council’s estimated loss of income amounts to over £380k. The budgetary cost of deferring all charges for another month would be c.£180k. The reintroduction of some longer stay charges will help to offset some of this loss of income. It is also important to note that parking demand is well below normal levels and will take time to recover. Assuming that demand is roughly half normal levels, then the actual cost of this proposal is likely to be in the region of £90k.

In the overall context of estimated net Council losses of around £3.5M due to the Covid-19 pandemic and given the Council’s levels of reserves, option 2 is affordable and gives the public and businesses a transition period to allow time to gear up to full charging again wef 8 July 2020.

There may be some NHS workers who have purchased season tickets and are now entitled to free parking in the Council’s car parks under the new government arrangements. At present this scheme is open ended and no end date has been provided. Any NHS worker who has purchased a season ticket that is no longer required because of these arrangements, can return it to the Council’s parking team for a refund for the part of the season ticket covered by their NHS permit. It is not anticipated this will be a significant issue in Test Valley.

Legal Implications

There are no legal implications of this decision. Given the value of the matter in question, a decision of Cabinet is required on the recommendation.

Conclusion and reasons for recommendation

This report sets out the Council’s response to the gradual relaxation of lockdown measures and the impact on town centre car parks. The report recommend that for a transition period of one month, an element of free parking be retained to support visitors returning to the town centre as shops begin to reopen.

Background Papers (Local Government Act 1972 Section 100D) None
Confidentiality It is considered that this report does not contain exempt information within the meaning of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, and can be made public.
No of Annexes:	1	File Ref:	N/A
(Portfolio: Planning ) Councillor N Adams-King
Officer:	Simon Ellis	Ext:	8301
Report to:	Cabinet	Date:	29 May 2020