Decision

Cabinet Agreed:

1.1.          To apply parking charges to all motor vehicles in Council car parks, as set out within section 5.4, ensuring a consistent approach across all chargeable parking bays;

1.2.          To remove cash payments once the On Street payment system upgrades are complete, as set out within section 5.7, improving customer experience through greater payment choice, ensuring consistency across all parking locations, and reducing CO2 emissions linked to cash collection and processing.

Agreed to implement the following changes not less than 21 days following publication of these changes through a Notice of Variation:

2.1.          Increase on-street parking charges, as set out in section 5.2 and Appendix D, to align more closely with other councils and meet rising service delivery costs;

2.2.          Increase off-street parking fees, as set out in section 5.4 and Appendix E, to ensure charges remain comparable with other councils and support rising service costs;

2.3.          Increase parking permit fees, as set out in sections 5.8 and Appendix F, with the exception of the proposed escalating charges in section 5.9, to meet the rising costs of maintaining and operating parking schemes across the city.

Agreed to undertake statutory consultation on the following proposals:

3.1.          Introduce coastal car park charges at Jennycliff, Mountbatten and Strand Street, as set out within section 5.5 and Appendix C, to ensure a more consistent approach while maintaining support for short-stay visitors.

3.2.          Introduce charges for Blue Badge holders on the Hoe Promenade, as set out within section 5.6 and Appendix E, to ensure a fair and consistent charging approach across all car parks.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Not increase fees and charges. The proposals have been considered fully by officers considering benchmarking and the need to achieve cost recovery and maintain levels of income critical to the delivery of key services. Fees are proposed at the level considered appropriate in light of this and the substantial shortfall in resources needed to set a balanced budget for 2026/27. The option of setting no increase has been rejected on the basis it would not achieve cost recovery, and/or may affect the viability of services.