Agenda item

CABINET MEMBER: Councillor Gareth Griffith

To consider the report

To accept the update and support the recommendation of the Task Group that pay and display fees be increased by 10%.

The Head of Environment Department presented a report giving an overview of its contents. The main purpose of the report was noted namely that the current strategy, adopted in 2015, would end in 2021. The committee was reminded that a Parking Task Group had been established to consider the need to increase income, along with the new challenges and opportunities that have arisen since the last parking strategy was established in February 2015. 

It was reported that the task group had two main challenges namely to increase income to the target of £400,000 and secondly to achieve this without having an excessive impact on Gwynedd residents. It was explained that there had been several changes in parking practices over the last few years and these included;

·         More tourists and as a result a greater demand for parking spaces.

·         More electric cars were being bought and therefore there was an opportunity to install car charging points.

·         Increased use of contactless payments, this highlighted the need to upgrade the pay machines in the car parks. 

·         An increase in motorhomes parking in inappropriate places. 

The above points were expanded upon and the need was noted to offer a provision for card payments side by side with cash payments. It was noted that a provision for payment over the telephone had been established, however, this depended on a mobile phone and a sufficient signal to make the payments.  However, it appeared that offering two options would facilitate raising more future income as it was possible for people without cash to use the car parks. 

The concerns that had recently been highlighted were identified regarding motorhomes and their increase as restrictions had prevented foreign travel.  It was explained that this was not an easy matter to resolve and the problem had existed for some years by now. It was noted that solutions such as, creating by-laws, increasing the number of enforcement officers and also adapting car parks to facilitate motorhome vehicles by charging acceptable fees for the service.

Reference was made to the parking task group's recommendation to raise fees by 10% in the car parks as a way of increasing income. It was added that the task group had identified that fees should not be charged for parking for the disabled in disabled bays and therefore this would continue free of charge. 

During the discussion, the following observations were made by members:-

·         Concern was expressed regarding motorhomes parking in places without facilities and in areas of scientific interest and of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It was noted that there was evidence of users disposing of sewage waste in public places. 

·         The suggestion was made that we should press for the creation of by-laws to protect staying places in order that motorhomes do not park there.

·         It was noted that local caravan businesses needed support and therefore the Council should not invest in offering services for these vehicles in car parks.

·         Some members felt that the annual pass of £140 was high for some to pay as one sum, as it was not possible to pay in monthly instalments, however, it was welcomed that it was possible to buy a 6 months pass for half the cost.

·         Some members noted that motorhomes were a valuable resource as they were self-contained now and included water supplies and waste facilities. It was suggested that a fee should be charged that was comparative to campsites for people to have an opportunity to park in towns and use shops and local services. 

·         Concerns were raised regarding parking in some villages, with the increase in holiday homes e.g. Airbnb, where parking spaces were occupied by tourists. 

In response to the members’ observations, the Head of the Environment Department agreed that the situation with motorhomes had been a concern for a while, however, he noted that it was a long process to create by-laws to prevent these vehicles from parking.    It was noted that it was an idea to conduct a political conversation on the next steps.

In reference to the annual pass, it was noted that the possibility of paying monthly was impractical as it was not possible to ensure that payments continued once a pass had been issued to the residents. It was highlighted that it was possible to buy a 6 month pass in an effort to reduce the cost in a different way.

The Parking and Street Works Manager explained the parking fees structures and noted that the parking enforcement team was self-funding with income from fees and fines.  As the income had been higher than the costs of employing the team, it may be shown that there was a possibility to increase the size of the team, which was essential to cope with the parking challenges. As well as this, he noted that the surplus could be used to re-invest to improve car parks and to upgrade the machines.

RESOLVED

To accept the update and support the recommendation of the Task Group that pay and display fees be increased by 10%.