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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

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