Issue - meetings

Portfolio Holder – Councillor Jane Riley

To recommend that Executive review the tariffs charged on the Council’s off-street car parks.  For Crown Car Park, there is a separate recommendation to allow for the sale of season tickets and the introduction of a new tariff.

Executive is asked to authorise the steps to enable amendments to the Parking Places Orders in line with the recommended changes.

90.1.     Councillor Riley reported that Off Street charges had last been considered in June 2022 and that Appendix A to the report provided comparisons with other operators; it was noted that other local authorities were also reviewing charges but that the comparisons in the appendix were with the current charges. The proposed increases would support the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan and would make sustainable transport more attractive.

90.2.     Councillor Riley reported that it was also proposed to introduce Business Season Tickets at Crown Car Park, and in line with the planning consent which enabled this there would also be a new charge at Crown Car Park of £12 for stays which exceed 5 hours but where the vehicle was removed by 8am the following day.

90.3.     Councillor Fisher commented that he recognised that the Council had a budget gap to fill but said that the Town Centre was already struggling and that he therefore didn’t agree with the proposed increases. Councillor Fisher said that he welcomed the introduction of season tickets at Crown Car Park but said that this had taken far too long to put into place.

90.4.     Councillor M Cook said that in 2011 the previous administration had charged £1.70 per hour for parking in the then crumbling Crown Street Car Park. The Council was now 14 years later, despite the significant effect of inflation, still proposing a charge lower than £1.70, for an award winning multi-storey car park; in real terms the price was around 1/3^rd lower than it had been in 2011. Councillor Fisher commented that there were also 1/3^rd fewer shops in Ipswich Town Centre than there had been in 2011.

90.5.     Councillor MacDonald noted that it was important that the Council’s finances were kept in a good state and that this would help to do that.

It was RESOLVED:

a)             to vary the tariffs, including season ticket charges and the after 2pm special offer, within the Council’s Off-Street Parking Places Order in accordance with Appendix A of the report with such changes coming into effect on 31^st March 2025.

Reason: to generate additional income and contribute to the Council’s savings programme

b)             to increase the charges made for season tickets in Cobbold Street and Richmond Road car parks from £307 to £371 per annum from 31^st March 2025, and to incorporate these into the Council’s Off-Street Parking Places Order.

Reason: to provide consistency with other charges and contribute to the Council’s savings programme

c)             to incorporate the sale of season tickets at the Crown parking place into the Council’s Off-Street Parking Places Order at the same rate as is proposed to apply on the Council’s long-stay car parks as per paragraph 14.1 of the report.

Reason: to enable the sale of season tickets for this car park to local businesses to generate additional income and contribute to the Council’s savings programme

d)             to delegate authority to the Head of Vibrant Town Services, in consultation with the Assistant Director –  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90