The Director of Neighbourhoods, Nikki Butterworth, introduced this report which consider alternative options for parking charges in 2021/22 and beyond. At the Budget Policy and Resources Committee on Wednesday 17th February 2021, budget proposals included a further £1 million to be achieved through ‘additional and increased parking charges and whole scale car parking review’. During this Committee Members resolved that further work be undertaken by the Environment, Climate Emergency and Transport Committee in respect of car parking charges to develop and implement proposals in line with the agreed Budget and for the Policy and Resources Committee to be updated accordingly. Full Council, at its meeting of 1 March, unanimously agreed the saving of £1m from additional and increased parking charges and whole scale car parking review as part of the 2021/22 annual budget.

Members debated whether there was sufficient information in the report to enable them to come to a decision. They noted that it was a challenging target and any change would upset some residents and could increase parking in residential areas to avoid charges, but the alternative saving options included reductions in staffing, golf courses, refuse collection and leisure centres. There was a specific requirement from Government to comply with budget plans in order to gain funding to offset Covid-19 income losses.

Councillor Chris Cooke made a proposal for agreeing options 1, 3 and 4 which were:

1.  Introduce charges into off-street car parks that are currently Free i.e.;

Bromborough, Bebington, Irby, Hoylake, New Brighton etc.

3.  Introduce parking charges into coastal locations e.g.
New Brighton, West Kirby, Leasowe, Hoylake.

4.  Standardised Charges. to implement a new and standardised tariff structure across all existing and any new charging locations, both on and off-street.

And also to standardise charges across the Borough.

Councillor Liz Grey seconded the proposal.

Resolved (6:4 with one abstention):

That this Committee

(1)  agrees to adopt car parking charging options 1,3 and 4 and to standardise charges at: £1 for up to one hour, £2 for up to two hours, £3 for up to three hours, £4 for up to four hours and £5 for over four hours or all day parking; and

(2)  delegates authority to the Director of Neighbourhood Services to implement the decision of this Committee and the parking charges options selected as soon as is reasonably practicable.