Issue - meetings

Members considered a report responding to a previous request by this committee to consider options for parking permits.

The Senior Property Strategy and Projects Officer introduced the report, and highlighted the following points:

·         Payment for parking in both Market Rasen and Gainsborough can be made at pay and display machines, via a mobile phone application or by purchasing a permit;

·         Permits were issued for either 5 or 6 day periods.  Previously, permits had been more competitively priced; at one point in time, a monthly direct debit was the equivalent of the cost of three days of ‘normal’ parking.  The cost of parking had since increased in two phases;

·         There had recently been interest from staff in an alternative to 5 or 6 day payment; however there had been no consensus in this interest as to what period of time would be the most popular;

·         A virtual based permit system had been looked into; however this was an increase in cost over the current paper based system; in addition a system of this type would be operated by an external company;

·         A scratchcard system had been considered.  These cards would be valid for a month, but it would be for the authority to decide what sort of discount would be applied.  This system did allow for pre-payment;

·         Based on the current cost of a daily ticket over the course of a year, whilst factoring in public holidays, the permits as they stood now were the equivalent of two days parking per week at full price.

Following this introduction, Members asked questions of officers and provided comment on the report, detailed below:

·         The only car parks in the district managed by the authority were in Market Rasen and Gainsborough;

·         Car parking could well be a crucial aspect of how Market Rasen and Gainsborough were seen as in terms of shopping locations.  If possible, it would be good to see the car parking strategy review taking place as the district comes out of Covid-19 restrictions;

·         The current system of permits was paper based and they were prepared by Customer Services staff.  There was an existing database of permit holders. 

Although in theory it would be relatively easy to write onto the permits the days of the week people were able to park, there was not currently the fees and charges structure to support the many different ways in which people pay;

·         One Member pointed out that the current car parking strategy was not making money for the authority.

The recommendations were moved, seconded, and it was unanimously RESOLVED to:

(1)  Retain the current permit tariffs as there were still being sold in viable numbers;

(2)  Include a request for views in the forthcoming consultation on the next Car Park Strategy to assess demand for alternative permit options, which would include scratch cards.