Issue - meetings

This report sets out a range of options for changes to Brent’s visitor parking pricing scheme. The report also provides background information, the policy context, benchmarking comparisons and usage patterns of daily visitor parking in Brent.  The proposals are intended to improve the management of parking demand within the borough’s CPZs, to enable more realistic choices to be made by visitors when considering the options of driving or using more sustainable modes of travel, and to ensure that charges stand comparison with adjoining boroughs.

(i)         that approval be give to proceed to formal consultation on the proposals set out in this report for a standard all-day charge for visitor parking permits of £4.50; and an increase in the charge for an Annual Visitor Household permit to £165 for a full year, £99 for six months, and £66 for three months;

(ii)        that included in the preferred option be the offer of a lower price visitor parking permit of £3 (linked to the cost of a return bus fare and other off-peak public transport fares outside of Zone 1) in  option (b) namely:

The option of offering a visitor permit valid for up to 4 hours at a £3 charge rate;

(iii)       that authority to implement the proposed price changes including amending any relevant Traffic Management Orders, following consultation, be delegated to the Chief Operating Officer in consultation with the Lead Member for Environment.

The Cabinet considered the report from the Chief Operating Officer which set out a range of options for changes to Brent’s visitor parking pricing scheme. The report also provided background information, the policy context, benchmarking comparisons and usage patterns of daily visitor parking in Brent. 

Councillor Southwood (Lead Member, Environment) in introducing the report, stated that the proposals were intended to improve the management of parking demand within the borough’s CPZs, to enable more realistic choices to be made by visitors when considering the options of driving or using more sustainable modes of travel, and to ensure that charges stood comparison with adjoining boroughs. She referred to problems of congestion near schools and difficulties in finding parking spaces experienced by those providing support to residents. The option of half day parking would help parking turnover. Councillor Southwood clarified that the annual household permits would continue at the same price to aid residents who had essential visitors.

With the consent of the Chair, Councillor Warren addressed the meeting and referred to the £9m surplus in the parking account in 2014/15, putting the view the parking charges were a money making opportunity. The Chair responded, drawing attention to the annual parking account and the cost of providing a service. Charging was a means of meeting these costs. A student from Crest Academy addressed the meeting and spoke in support of providing a good parking service. Councillor Pavey added that the charges covered the revenue cost of the Transportation Service and covered less than half of the total expenditure incurred by the council on concessionary fares.

Members welcomed the proposals in particular the four hour permit, the opportunity to help those in receipt of informal care, emphasised the need to make parking available where possible and to provide a good quality, fair service.

The Cabinet supported Option B in the report.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that approval be given to proceed to formal consultation on the proposals set out in the from the Chief Operating Officer report for a standard all-day charge for visitor parking permits of £4.50; and an increase in the charge for an Annual Visitor Household permit to £165 for a full year, £99 for six months, and £66 for three months;

(ii)        that included in the preferred option be the offer of a lower price visitor parking permit of £3 (linked to the cost of a return bus fare and other off-peak public transport fares outside of Zone 1) in  option (b) namely:

The option of offering a visitor permit valid for up to 4 hours at a £3 charge rate;

(iii)       that authority to implement the proposed price changes including amending any relevant Traffic Management Orders, following consultation, be delegated to the Chief Operating Officer in consultation with the Lead Member for Environment.