Agenda item

To consider the attached report (C-038-2018/19).

(1)        That the Petition from Ongar residents seeking to rescind the Cabinet decision of September 2018 of a free one hour followed by £1 all day charge on Sunday in the Pleasance Car Park in Ongar be noted; and

(2)        The Cabinet agreed that on the basis that the changes being introduced were agreed in September 2018 as part of parking tariff review it was too soon to make an amendment and that a full review of the impact of the new tariff would be carried out within a year of being implemented.

In the absence of the Contract and Technical Services Portfolio Holder, the Community and Partnership Services Portfolio Holder introduced the report on the recent petition to rescind Sunday off street car parking charges in Ongar.

The last tariff change was in 2015 however it did not include Ongar and Waltham Abbey. Parking charges had not changed in Ongar since 2008.

In September 2018 Cabinet agreed a new car parking tariff. The review sought to balance the needs of various users and was an attempt to simplify parking tariffs, accept the principle of controlling demand by price, help local businesses by keeping the lower charge bands unchanged, gradually removing subsidy from Season Ticket prices, continue the differential tariff across the District, create uniformity in charging on weekends and to enable reinvestment to improve and enhance user experience.

The petitioners sought for the Council to reconsider its earlier decision of an introduction of a £1 all day parking charge on a Sunday in Pleasance Car Park in Ongar, after an initial free one hour. The Petitioner’s reasons included adverse impact on: members of the Petangue club, ramblers, dog walkers, visitors and vitality of local shops and businesses. Under the Council Constitution, Cabinet was obliged to consider the Petition and take appropriate action. However, the Cabinet noted that the report had recently been agreed (in September 2018) and had only just been implemented; and that it would be reviewed within a year.

Councillor Bedford as an Ongar Councillor asked why we needed these variations around the District; had a survey been carried out across all the car parks; and how much revenue was expected to be generated. He understood the need to support local businesses but why was the Council imposing charges on a Sunday when car parks in Ongar on Sundays were largely used for leisure pursuits. The Community and Partnership Services Portfolio Holder replied that the Council were attempting to bring all the car parks in the district up to the same standard, partly achieved by adjusting the rates. This Ongar car park would generate about £3k p.a. to help in this district wide upgrade as well as standardising car parking charges. If we made an exception for one car park then we could be called upon to make an exception to another and so on. We need to maintain a standard so we can move forward.

Councillor Keska speaking for the residents noted that there had been three separate petitions submitted as well as letters in support by the Ongar Town Forum, the Ongar Town Council, the Ongar Neighbourhood Plan Community Group and the Epping Ongar Railway. He noted that each town in the district was unique and you should not equate what happens in one town to what happens elsewhere in the District. It was said that the Council was introducing charges to support local businesses but how do you support local businesses by introducing car parking charges. And as for losing £3k per annum, as you have never had it how could you lose it, this was a new revenue stream. He had been told that a shop assistant on minimum wage would now have to pay £6 to park there, not something you could afford to lose on a small wage. He requested that the Cabinet think again about these charges.

The Community and Partnership Services Portfolio Holder replied that the petition was specifically about the £1 charge on a Sunday, the points just raised was about the entire tariff structure. But, he took the point and noted that there were still the old charges in force for the first two hours for shoppers and visitors. They were also looking towards more sustainable transport leading to less car parking. But with one hour free and a £1 all day parking charge on a Sunday, it was not considered to be excessive. Councillor Keska said that he thought it was not an unreasonable charge; it was the message it was sending that had gone down badly. He understood that it would be reviewed within a year, could this be reviewed in less than a year. He was told that this would be unlikely.

Councillor Philip understood that all ward Councillors thought that their wards were unique but as a District Council they could not treat all 24 local councils differently. They all had their own problems. It was disingenuous to say that the car parking charges had gone up by £6, that is what it costs now. £1 for Sunday parking was not excessive, given what the Council was putting back in return. He understood the concerns of residents and Councillors but he would not encourage a review in under 12 months as they would need proper data to assess and he would encourage the Portfolio Holder bring back a report in a 12 month period but not later.

Councillor C Whitbread noted that we had some of the lowest car parking charges in Essex and invested in our high street and car parks. We had also maintained an element of free parking. He noted the concerns of the Members and that we would review it within 12 months.

Decision:

(1)        That the Petition from Ongar residents seeking to rescind the Cabinet decision of September 2018 of a free one hour followed by £1 all day charge on Sunday in the Pleasance Car Park in Ongar be noted; and

(2)        The Cabinet agreed that on the basis that the changes being introduced were agreed in September 2018 as part of parking tariff review it was too soon to make an amendment and that a full review of the impact of the new tariff would be carried out within a year of being implemented.

Reasons for Proposed Decision:

To consider a petition submitted by residents of the District.

Other Options for Action:

It was possible to rescind the earlier Cabinet decision of September 2018 and keep free Sunday parking in Pleasance Car Park in Ongar. There were four other car parks that will also see the introduction of new £1 charge, these are: Bansons Lane Ongar, Cornmill, Quaker Lane and Darby Drive Waltham Abbey. It could be deemed unfair if only one car park remained free and others were chargeable.