Purpose

CPCA grant funded initiative to promote footfall in city centre

Decision

1. Approves the acceptance of the funding (£891,667) from the CPCA to support the delivery of a free parking scheme in Peterborough from 3 August 2026 to 31 March 2028.
2. Authorise the Council to enter into a Grant Funding Agreement with the CPCA for this funding.
3. Delegate authority to the Executive Director for Place and Economy for the release and allocation of this funding to offset any parking revenue losses.
4. Approve the variation of the off-street parking order, to adjust the charging hours in Car Haven, Riverside, Bishops Road, and Pleasure Fair car parks to 7am-3pm weekdays and 7am-8pm weekends to deliver the free parking scheme. 

Alternative options considered

Cabinet RESOLVED to:

1.     Alternative free parking proposals that were priced and quoted but were not taken forward for consideration of grant funding were:

• All car parks free after 5pm

• All car parks free for up to 3 hours on a Monday

• All car parks free after 5pm Thurs-Sun

 Costs were also calculated for every conceivable combination of car parks and

days for up to 1 hour, up to 2 hour and up to 3-hour free periods for reference and consideration.

2.     Do nothing – the Council could refuse to engage or agree to any proposal to

provide free parking, however it is not in the best interests of the council or the

public to do so for the reasons set out in the report.