Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: April 23, 2025

Purpose: Analysis of off-street parking places and consideration given for public consultation.

Content: RESOLVED That the Cabinet: a)                agrees the off-street parking sites (K2 Crawley, The Hawth Theatre, Goffs Park Lower) that will be subject to public consultation under the Traffic Management Act 2004 as set out in Appendix A of report HCS/092. b)                delegates authority to the Head of Community Services to undertake public consultation for the agreed off street car parking sites. c)                agrees that the results of the public consultation of the off street sites be bought back to Cabinet for further consideration in June 2025. d)                delegates authority to the Head of Community Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member to issue a notification of variation to charges for Orchard Street Multi-Storey Car Park.  Reasons for the Recommendations Following a review of off-street parking sites where issues such as road safety, congestion, capacity constraints or locations incurring regular revenue costs associated with maintenance or operations, a detailed financial and operational analysis was undertaken for three key sites considered to viable to introduce parking charges and wider parking controls. Where the site is both operationally and socio-economically viable, it is recommended that the Council undertakes statutory consultation under the Traffic Management Act 2004. This approach ensures that any introduction of parking charges is proportionate, evidence-led, and underpinned by a clear rationale. It also reflects the wider need for sites to be self-sustaining, and where appropriate, capable of generating a modest surplus that can support maintenance, reinvestment, and the financial resilience of the Council’s parking estate. Orchard Street Multi-Storey Car Park is the Council’s largest Multi-Storey Car Park and is substantially underutilised. Following the successful trial of ‘volume over value’ at Kingsgate Car Park, reducing the parking tariffs at the site, and introducing new ‘Town Centre Worker’ permits alongside the existing Residential and Business Permits scheme seeks to drive up occupancy of the site, and increase overall revenue to the site.