Content

*RESOLVED –
 

1.  
That new fees and charges for the
Council’s car parks, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report,
be approved for implementation from Wednesday 1 November
2023.
 

2.  
That the thirty-minute car parking
charge be removed so that all charges reflect hourly
rates.
 

3.  
That all residents of the Borough
should continue to benefit from free parking in the 2023-24
financial year before 10am and after 3pm Monday to Saturday and
all-day Sunday, and Bank Holidays, at selected surface car parks
using the Resident Parking Scheme.
 

4.  
That the Service Director for
Leisure, Culture and Community Wellbeing, be delegated authority,
in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Town Centres and
Visitor Economy, to apply appropriate negotiated fees for new
activities and opportunities that are introduced during the period
covered by this report.
 
REASON FOR DECISIONS
 

1.  
The Council continues to face
significant financial challenges. The sustained period of austerity
since 2010, the ongoing risks and uncertainties over future funding
arrangements, the budgetary impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and a
sustained period of exceptionally high inflation, have all impacted
on the Council’s financial position.
 

2.  
The Council’s budget strategy
is to deliver a balanced and sustainable budget. Given the forecast
budget deficits it is important that all potential increases to
income streams be implemented as soon as possible to help mitigate
these pressures.
 

3.  
It is therefore prudent to implement
an in-year uplift now, to assist the Council in achieving a
balanced budget for 2023-24 and to recover ground on the increasing
costs associated with car park operations since the previous fees
and charges increase on 4 April 2022.