Agenda item

Councillor Keith Henson, Cabinet Member outlined the report upon the Off Street Pay and Display Car Park Review proposal June 2024 and Mr Rhodri Llwyd, Corporate Lead Officer, Highways and Environmental Services subsequently provided Members with a detailed power point presentation on the Car park review proposals. The following information was provided:-

 

•         Background

o        Package of proposals to meet income target

o        Need to be considered /accepted in their entirety

o        Simplified charges and arrangements

o        Failure to meet target will mean further cuts to services/functions within HES

 

•         Changes to Season Ticket Offering

o        Remove car park specific season ticket options

o        Establish new ‘Ceredigion Long Stay Season Ticket’ *

o        *Establish new ‘North Road and Ceredigion Long Stay Season Ticket’

o        Revised scale of Charges for Season Tickets

 

 

•         Extend Maesyrafon Car Park

o        Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (RTRA)

o        S45-S46 enables the designation of charged for parking places on highways

o        Changes will require the making of a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), which will be subject to public consultation

 

•         Change Designation of Gloster Row

o        Change the designation to a Season Ticket car park

o        Small car park with limited number of spaces

o        Access is restricted due to its location

o        Predominantly used by residents

o        Not cost effective to install new P&D machine

 

•         Change Designation of Pendre

o        Historically a Permit Holder only car park

o        Better utilised as a short stay P&D car park

o        Prime location, near to main shopping areas

o        Provides level access to those with limited mobility

o        Affords free parking outside charging hours

 

•         Simplification of Charges / Tariffs

o        All types of vehicle paying the same rate in a car park

o        Two bands of charging – coastal and inland

o        Standardised tariffs in all* car parks 2, 4 and 24hrs

o        Removing weekly ticket tariff options

o        Consistency of all year and hours of charging

 

•         Reduce Frequency of Changes to F&C

o        Currently reviewed annually through F&C

o        Proposed to change to a 3-year or 5-year review cycle

o        Reduction in cost

o        Reduction in admininstration

o        Long term consistency

o        Greater certainty for customers

o        Period of price stability

 

•         Change Approach to Blue Badges

o        Currently free parking only for specific criteria

o        Proposed to change that blue badge holders

receive an additional 1hr free on top of paid for parking

o        Aligns with neighbouring Authorities

o        Easier to communicate the position to users

 

•         Administrative/Housekeeping

o        Consolidate all changes into one TRO

o        TRO will be subject to public consultation

o        Proposals considered as a single package

 

Members thanked the Cabinet Member and Corporate Lead Officer for a comprehensive report and following questions from the floor and clarification on the proposals, it it was RESOLVED that a recorded vote be taken and the voting was as follows: -

 

For: Councillors Marc Davies, Gwyn Wigley Evans, Shelly Childs, Gethin Davies, Meirion Davies, Wyn Evans, Chris James, Maldwyn Lewis, Sian Maehrlein, John Roberts and Carl Worrall (11)

 

Against:  None

 

Abstention: None

 

It was therefore AGREED to recommend to Cabinet to support the package of proposals subject to the following:-

(i) that an Integrated Impact Assessment be completed on the proposals,

(ii) that a report on the outcome of the public consultation on the proposals be presented to the Committee prior to consideration and final agreement by Cabinet; and

(iii) that the charges proposed to Blue badge holders be omitted from the proposals