Agenda item - Parking Annual Report 2015-16

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture (copy attached).

1)           That the Environment Transport and Sustainability Committee endorses the publication of the Parking Annual Report for 2015-16 under the provisions of the Traffic Management Act 2004.

2)           That the Environment Transport and Sustainability Committee authorises the Head of Transport Operations to produce and publish the report which will be made available on the Council’s website and to stakeholders.

50.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that requested approval of the publication of the Parking Annual Report 2015-16 for submission to the Department for Transport, Traffic Penalty Tribunal and for general publication under the provisions of the Traffic Management Act 2004.

50.2      Councillor Janio praised the very detailed report and enquired as to the reason there were large fluctuations in expenditure and what efforts were being made to manage and reduce expenditure.

50.3      The Policy & Development Manager stated that a number of new initiatives had been introduced to reduce long-term expenditure which required some investment.

50.4      Councillor Janio asked whether it could be expected that there would be a reduction in expenditure once those spend to save programmes started to take effect.

50.5      The Policy & Development Manager stated that there had been a number of recent expenditure outlays agreed including investment in improved pay and display machines that would be paid back over a seven year period and reflected in the budget profile in the next annual report for 2016-17 and ongoing. The Policy & Development Manager stated that expenditure would vary year on year relating to new investments or previous investment agreements coming to an end but on the whole, Brighton & Hove City Council’s expenditure was stable relative to other authorities.

50.6      Councillor Moonan stated that she had read the report with great interest and was pleased to see that there had been very little changes to the charges applied across the city, a reduction in traffic related fatalities, an increase in Blue Badge enforcement and that pay by phone parking levels were now around 50% of all parking payment transactions.

50.7      Councillor Atkinson asked if the tariff for weekend usage of London Road car park could be reviewed as part of the upcoming Fees & Charges report as the usage over weekends was low and a reduced tariff might not only increase occupancy over the other car parks based in the centre of the city but also encourage footfall through the London Road and North Laine areas and keep parking on the edge of the city.

50.8      The Policy & Development Manager clarified that parking demand was always examined as part of the process of charge setting and that would be one of many issues looked at.

50.9      Councillor Miller noted that car park occupancy rates also declined during evenings and similar re-assessment regarding charges could be made to incentivise usage for that time of day. Councillor Miller noted the information provided on page 208 in relation to the income and expenditure of car parks and asked if for future reports, the table could give a breakdown on increases or decreases on an annual basis as with the table provided on page 207. Councillor Miller asked for the distinction between a higher and lower level Penalty Charge Notice (PCN), further information on the contribution to the Housing Revenue Account in relation to High Street Car Park. In addition, Councillor Miller asked if there would be a lowering of predicted revenue from Norton Road Car Park following the relocation of staff to Hove Town Hall.

50.10   The Policy & Development Manager clarified that there were evening rates at some council-owned car parks including Regency Square and Trafalgar Street and free parking after 6pm or 8pm in bays throughout the city and the difference in a higher and lower PCN’s related to the severity and type of contravention. The Policy & Development Manager added that High Street Car Park was managed on behalf of Housing but the HRA received the income.

50.11   The Assistant Director- City Transport added that there were minimal passes for council staff at Norton Road Car Park for which agreement was being sought from the Staff Travel Plan and a small number of spaces dedicated for Members. Occupancy rates at Norton Road Car Park had been much higher since staff had relocated to Hove Town Hall.

50.12   Councillor Miller stated that he was still unclear as to the arrangement for High Street Car Park as the figures in the table were after a contribution had been made to the HRA.

50.13   The Chair stated that Councillor Miller would be provided a written response on the issue after the meeting.

50.14   Councillor Theobald asked if any consideration had been given to variable parking charges relating to weather or demand and whether West Sussex County Council had been persuaded to join enforcements efforts against Blue Badge fraud.

50.15   The Parking Infrastructure Manager stated that consideration was being given to variable parking charges as there had been some significant technological advancements and adoption of such measures by large cities such as San Francisco. However, current legislation meant that the advertisement of a Traffic Regulation Order was necessary for an increase in parking charges so the practicalities of such a system would be difficult to navigate. In relation to Blue Badge fraud enforcement, officers had met with colleagues from West Sussex County Council in the past week and they had expressed an interest in becoming part of joint work.

50.16   RESOLVED-

1)           That the Environment Transport and Sustainability Committee endorses the publication of the Parking Annual Report for 2015-16 under the provisions of the Traffic Management Act 2004.

2)           That the Environment Transport and Sustainability Committee authorises the Head of Transport Operations to produce and publish the report which will be made available on the Council’s website and to stakeholders.