Decision details

Review of the associated fees and charges that can be set by the Council.

To review each area of charging and set-out a proposal as appropriate to ensure the effective management of traffic and support the Transport Policy.

Inflationary rises have eroded the effectiveness of parking fees and tariffs in managing traffic. The fees are to be reviewed to support the Transport Strategy objectives to maintain car access, while supporting public transport and active travel objectives. The review will consider the impact on the climate emergency and clean air objectives.

That the Executive Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport agrees:

1. Pay and Display tariffs in the parking zones outside the city centre are increased, as detailed in Appendix A, and that these are implemented as soon as practicable, but not before 1 June;

2. City Centre Zone Pay and Display tariffs are increased, as detailed in Appendix A of the report, and that these are implemented as soon as practicable but not before 1 June;

3. Changes to the permit pricing structure, as detailed in Appendix B of the report be approved and be implemented from 1 June 2022;

4. Changes to the dispensation and bay suspension charges, as detailed in the report, be approved and be implemented from 1 June 2022;

5. Pay and Display tariffs in Parks car parks are increased, as detailed in Appendix A of the report, and that these are implemented as soon as practicable but not before 1 June; and

6. The Executive Director of Place has authority, in consultation with the Executive Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, to make future changes to the parking fees and charges contained within this document, where this supports effective management of demand for parking and contributes to wider traffic management objectives (provided they are not increased by less than a whole 5 pence or an amount greater than the rate of Retail Price Index plus 1% from the date they were last increased).

It is anticipated that the proposed tariff and fee changes set out in the report will help by better managing parking demand in areas and at times when demand is regularly and demonstrably outstripping supply.

The Council could maintain its current tariffs. This would not address the excess demand parking issues outlined in this report, nor enable other positive outcomes that may arise, such as better air quality.

The Council could make higher and more widespread increases in tariffs, but, with the information available, these are not thought to be appropriate or proportionate so as to achieve the aims of the proposed increases.

The Council could reduce the amount of permits allowed at each residential property to restrict demand. This general approach could have a disproportionate effect in certain Peripheral Parking Zones and as such this would need to be considered in greater detail on a Zone by Zone basis. A report on a proposed Controlled Parking Zone programme, including existing Zone reviews, is being prepared for consideration in 2022.