Decision

1. 1

The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Neighbourhood Services seeking approval, in the Council’s capacity as sole corporate trustee of the Hillsborough Park Charity, to increase the pay and display parking tariff at Hillsborough Park from £1.00 to £1.10 per hour.

1. 2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Charity Trustee Committee:-

(a)  Notes the contents of the report, including the wider city-wide decision to increase parking tariffs in line with inflation as set out in the Officer Decision Report on Parking Fees and Charges.

(b)  Considered whether it is in the best interests of the Hillsborough Park Charity to approve an increase in parking tariffs within the Hillsborough Park car park, specifically an increase of £0.10 per hour (from £1.00 to £1.10).

(c)  Approves an increase in the hourly parking tariff at Hillsborough Park from £1.00 to £1.10, to be implemented in line with the wider parking tariff changes.

(d)  Approves a delegation to the Executive Director of Neighbourhoods Services to make future changes to the parking fees and charges for Hillsborough Park in line with changes to Pay and Display tariffs in the parking zones outside the city centre.

1. 3

Reasons for Decision

1. 3.1

The recommended decision enables the Charity Trustee Committee to consider the parking tariff within Hillsborough Park separately from the wider city-wide parking fees decision, recognising the Council’s distinct role as sole corporate trustee of the Hillsborough Park Charity. The wider city parking review provides relevant context, but the central question for the Committee is whether the increase is in the best interests of the Hillsborough Park Charity and supports the charitable object of the provision and maintenance of a public park and recreation ground in Sheffield for the use of members of the public resorting thereto with the object of improving their conditions of life.

1. 3.2

The increase from £1.00 to £1.10 per hour is modest and reflects inflationary pressures since the last review, while avoiding a greater increase that may be disproportionate for park users. The proposal supports the charitable object of provision and maintenance of a public park and recreation ground in Sheffield for the use of members of the public by helping to manage demand for limited parking spaces, reducing congestion, and contributing to the quality and accessibility of the park environment.

1. 3.3

Any additional income generated from the tariff increase will be retained within the Hillsborough Park charitable account and used only in accordance with the charity’s purposes. This will help support the ongoing maintenance, management and improvement of the park, and is therefore considered to be in the best interests of the charity.

1. 3.4

The proposed delegation for future changes would allow parking charges at Hillsborough Park to be kept under review and adjusted in line with the wider parking tariff framework, where this remains consistent with trustee duties and the best interests of the charity. This would avoid unnecessary delay in implementing future changes, help prevent the charity’s parking income falling behind inflation or wider tariff changes, and support timely income generation for the maintenance and management of the park. The delegation would therefore serve the charity’s interests as well as reducing administrative duplication.

1. 4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

1. 4.1

Alternative Option 1 – Do nothing

Maintaining the current tariff at Hillsborough Park would mean that charges are not aligned with the wider city approach or inflation. As set out in the Officer Decision Report seeking to increase other (non-charitable site) parking fees, failure to increase tariffs would reduce the effectiveness of parking as a demand management tool and may lead to increased congestion and reduced availability of spaces.

It would also reduce the real-terms income available to support the maintenance and improvement of the park.

This option has therefore been discounted

1. 4.2

Alternative Option 2 – Increase tariffs by a greater amount

Whilst higher increases have the potential to generate additional income for the Hillsborough Park Charity, they may also reduce income if cheaper alternatives are sought out by park users.

A higher increase is not considered proportionate and would go beyond the CPI-based approach adopted across the wider parking estate.

This option has therefore been discounted