Agenda item
Cyflwynwyd gan:Cyng / Cllr. Gareth Griffith
Decision:
The
amendments to the Parking Strategy were adopted by changing the parking
management arrangements and implementing the parking fees structure in Gwynedd
to be implemented from 1 April 2021. It was agreed on an additional late
adjustment to the report, reconciling the enforcement hours of Band 1 Car Parks
to be operational between 10am and 4:30pm, and to keep the income level under
review during 2021/22, with a view to assist the Environment Department should
the real income from parking fees be lower than the target in the budget due to
this late adjustment. The Head of Environment was authorised to take the
necessary statutory steps to implement the revised fee structure from 1 April
2021.
Minutes:
The report was
submitted by Cllr Gareth Griffith.
DECISION
·
The amendments to the Parking Strategy were
adopted by changing the parking management arrangements and implementing the
parking fees structure in Gwynedd to be implemented from 1 April 2021. It was
agreed on an additional late adjustment to the report, reconciling the
enforcement hours of Band 1 Car Parks to be operational between 10am and
4:30pm, and to keep the income level under review during 2021/22, with a view
to assist the Environment Department should the real income from parking fees
be lower than the target in the budget due to this late adjustment.
·
The Head of Environment Department was
authorised to take the necessary statutory steps to implement the revised fee
structure from 1 April 2021.
DISCUSSION
The report was
submitted, noting that it was an item that had been discussed for a while but
it had been held back as a result of the pandemic. It was stated that Council
policies had not changed for many years and that the Education and Economy
Scrutiny Committee had resolved to create a task-force to examine the county's
arrangements. It was highlighted that this report was the result of the
task-force's work.
The Head of
Environment Department added that the current strategy had been adopted back in
2015. It was explained that a number of things had changed since then such as
an increase in electric vehicles, less use of cash along with an increase in
the number of outdoor events. Attention was also drawn to the increase seen
during lastsummer in the number of motor homes. It was emphasised that these
had highlighted more challenges in terms of parking.
It was noted that
the Cabinet and the Full Council had agreed to increase income in the field as
part of the savings scheme. With an increase in inflation along with the
savings target, it was highlighted that an income increase of approximately
£400k would be required. It was explained that the brief of the task-forcewas
to address the increased income but to keep the impact on local residents to a
minimum. It should be emphasised that the work undertaken by the Task-force had
been very thorough.
It was noted that
the task-force had highlighted that the car park banding system was too complex
and that it had been simplified from 5 bands to 3. It was noted that the task-force could have
increased the price by 10% across the whole location but the task-force had
decided to look at the field differently and the main changes were
outlined. The need to ensure that the
short-stay parking fee in the main centres remained the same was noted, but that
enforcement hours would be adapted in Bangor to 9am until 5pm. It was stated
that the long-stay price would be increased specifically in band 2 car park
fees and that there would be an increase in season tickets to correspond with
inflation.
Parking options
during the Christmas period were highlighted along with the desire to keep the
free parking arrangements in order to support businesses. It was noted that
consideration had been given to residents and Blue Badge holders and that a
decision had been made to retain them at present. It was noted that the summer
period last year had highlighted the need to increase parking enforcement
resources and to strengthen the team. It was noted that these changes not only
increased income but identified the changes that had been highlighted over the
past 6 years and the needs of residents and visitors were being met in
undertaking the adaptations.
Observations
arising from the discussion
¾
The importance of including the Scrutiny Committee as part of the decision-making
process and to examine the impact on the economy locally was highlighted.
¾
Gratitude was expressed for the work of the
task-force but in terms of changes to Band 1, it was noted that there may be a
local benefit in retaining the 10am – 4:30pm period and that retaining it would
be appreciated by residents.
¾
In terms of Motor Homes, it was enquired how it
would be managed and whether or not consideration had been given to creating
specific sites, and whether it would be possible to generate income in doing
so. It was stated that there was a number of considerations and there was a
need to examine long-term arrangements. It had been highlighted during the
summer that a number of vehicles had parked in overnight car parks, which had
created many problems. The need to research the field and to come to a
conclusion on how to manage it responsibly was noted.
¾
Gratitude was expressed for the work and the
attempt to simplify it by scrutiny members. Concern regarding the increase in
Band 2 and 3 and the impact it could have on businesses was stated. In
addition, in terms of residents' parking it was noted that there may be a need
to re-examine which parts of the county were part of the scheme.
¾
Concern regarding increasing a season ticket by
£15 was highlighted as it would affect residents, and it was enquired whether
or not it would be possible to use the income to re-invest in the car parks. It
was noted that the department had a budget to invest in the car parks and that
some Town and Community Councils had been part of the 10% scheme where they
charged 10% more in some car parks and received the percentage to re-invest in
their communities.
¾
It was agreed on an additional late adjustment
to the report, reconciling the enforcement hours of Band 1 Car Parks to be
operational between 10am and 4:30pm, and to keep the income level under review
during 2021/22, with a view to assist the Environment Department should the
actual income from parking fees be lower than the target in the budget due to
the adjustment.
Awdur:Dafydd Wyn Williams
Supporting documents:
- Item 7 - Report - Parking Review, item 7. PDF 401 KB
- Item 7 - Appendix A, item 7. PDF 425 KB
- Item 7 - Appendix B, item 7. PDF 297 KB
- Item 7 - Appendix C, item 7. PDF 292 KB
- Item 7 - Appendix D, item 7. PDF 482 KB