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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Councillor Stephens (Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport) introduced the Parking Services Annual Review and Proposed Updates report and discussed:

 

a) The report presenting a coherent set of proposals aimed at continuing improvements to parking services while supporting the Council during a period of significant financial pressure;

 

 

b) Parking income remaining essential to the delivery of key highways, transport and street services, with the proposals seeking to balance service quality, fairness and financial sustainability;

 

 

c) The report setting out proposed changes, the rationale for those changes and how they would be implemented;

 

 

d) A decision to withdraw proposal 5.9, relating to escalating charges for residential parking permits, following feedback received from members of the public;

 

 

e) Withdrawal of this proposal affecting the recommendations presented to Cabinet at the end of the item;

 

 

f) Continued progress made since 2023 to modernise and improve parking services including;

 

i) Delivery of over 400 extra wide parking bays;

 

ii) Expansion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the city;

 

iii) Investment of approximately £180,000 in payment system upgrades;

 

iv) Extension of parking durations to better support shoppers and local businesses;

 

v) Strengthening of safety measures, including installation of new CCTV and enhanced enforcement around schools;

 

 

g) Parking officers contributing to wider transport objectives, including participation in the Enhanced Bus Partnership Board and enforcement of bus lane and bus bay misuse, sometimes alongside onboard enforcement staff;

 

 

h) Partnership working with Plymouth Argyle Football Club, including parking enforcement on matchdays and support for sustainable and active travel initiatives;

 

 

i) Benchmarking against 26 other local authorities demonstrating that Plymouth’s on-street and off-street parking charges remained significantly lower than those in most comparable cities;

 

 

j) Recognition that parking charges were an emotive issue, while also identifying an opportunity to align more closely with national norms to protect essential services.

 

 

It was then further outlined:

 

 

k) Proposed revisions to on-street parking charges, including a proposed hourly rate of £2.80, alongside promotion of the use of remaining paid-for parking time at alternative locations;

 

 

l) Updates to off-street parking charges to ensure good value for longer stays and consistent charging across all motor vehicles;

 

 

m) Introduction of modest charges at coastal car parks after the first free hour, while maintaining accessibility;

 

 

n) Revisions to Blue Badge arrangements at the Hoe Promenade to ensure fairness and consistency with other off-street locations, while retaining reasonable adjustments for disabled users;

 

 

o) Expansion of payment options and a move towards the removal of cash payments once system upgrades had been completed, improving customer experience and reducing carbon impacts associated with cash collection;

 

 

p) Updates to permit fees, excluding the withdrawn escalation proposal;

 

 

q) The overall package of measures, following the withdrawal of proposal 5.9, being projected to generate a net benefit of approximately £1.33 million in 2026/27;

 

 

r) The additional income supporting essential highways, transport and enforcement services;

 

 

s) Recommendations seeking approval to apply parking charges to all motor vehicles in Council car parks, withdraw cash payments once upgrades were complete, implement revised charges following statutory notice periods, and undertake statutory consultation on coastal car park and Blue Badge proposals

 

 

Mike Artherton (Group Manager for Parking, Marine and Garages)) and Andy Sharp (Interim Service Director for Street Services) added:

 

t) The importance of promoting the ability for drivers to use remaining paid-for parking time at other locations across the city;

 

 

u) This feature enabling motorists to complete multiple journeys and activities on a single payment, improving overall value and customer experience;

 

 

v) A commitment to improving communication and promotion of this offer to residents and visitors.

 

 

In response to questions, the Cabinet discussed:

 

 

w) Requests for information on take-up of accessibility parking permits and assurance that a written response would be provided to Members;

 

 

x) The pressures faced by residents in inner-city areas with limited parking availability and high demand;

 

 

y) The need to balance managing parking demand, reducing car dependency and supporting sustainable transport, while recognising that many residents had limited alternatives to car use;

 

 

z) Concerns about the affordability of parking permits during a period of wider financial pressure on households;

 

 

aa) The importance of enforcement within permit zones and clarity for residents on what services and benefits permit fees funded;

 

 

bb) The need for greater transparency around permit administration, scheme management and enforcement activity;

 

 

cc) Recognition of the decision to withdraw the escalating permit charge proposal as a response to public concern and engagement;

 

 

dd) Acknowledgement of the long-term challenges created by historic urban layouts, limited street space and increasing vehicle ownership;

 

 

ee) Agreement that parking arrangements and impacts should remain under review as conditions and demand continued to change.

 

 

Cabinet agreed:

 

1.     To approve the Parking Services Annual Review and Proposed Updates, subject to the withdrawal of proposal 5.9 relating to escalating residential parking permit charges;

 

2.     To approve the implementation of revised on street, off-street and permit charges following the statutory 21-day notice of variation;

 

3.     To approve the application of parking charges to all motor vehicles in Council owned car parks;

 

4.     To approve the withdrawal of cash payments once payment system upgrades had been completed;

 

5.     To support statutory consultation on proposed changes to coastal car parks and Blue Badge parking arrangements;

 

6.     To note the commitment to provide further information to Members regarding permit take-up, enforcement activity and service transparency.