Decision Maker: Babergh Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: January 6, 2026

Purpose: To consider increases to parking charges to move the service to full cost recovery

Content: It was RESOLVED: -   1.1          That Cabinet approved Option 2, with the amendments as set out in recommendation 1.2, and agreed its implementation as soon as practically possible, and noted that this was likely to be approximately three months following a formal decision being made.   1.2          That Sunday charging be removed from Sudbury, Hadleigh and Pin Mill car parks, and that delegated authority be given to the Director – Operations in consultation with the Cabinet Member – People and Place to agree final charges at Pin Mill.      REASON FOR DECISION   Benchmarking of tariffs (Appendix B) suggested the proposals will not exceed local market rates, which continued to place the Councils car parks favourably where price is considered by motorists in choosing where to park and visit.  In establishing the Councils approved Parking Strategy for 2022-42, Ethos (formerly 2020 Highways and Transportation) Consultants confirmed that the cost of parking was one of a range of considerations when setting parking charges (see summary Appendix E). Data on visits, dwell times, premises vacancies, and spending from the three Council car park locations (see Appendix C) indicated there has been no substantial change or significant detrimental impact on these figures during the nine months since the revised charges were introduced in January 2025. The validity of this data, which was also examined by Overview and Scrutiny Committee in September 2025, has been qualified by the University of Suffolk in their independent report (Appendix A). The report concluded that ‘the introduction of parking charges had not had a significant overall impact on these towns’, which in turn backed up the findings of Ethos which underpin the Councils strategy in relation to charge setting. The affordability of season tickets had been carefully considered to support both residents and local workers, ensuring these tickets remained available at a substantial discount for parking users who had fewer options for where they can park. A range of ‘concessions’ continued to be provided where appropriate and practical to operate and these would be kept under review. Free parking in blue badge bays continued to be offered within all Council owned car parks across the districts. Free parking options remained available in all locations, although it was accepted at times these could be less convenient or in higher demand. The planned changes would continue to support on street enforcement which was known to improve turnover of these free spaces. Given the Council’s overall MTFP budget pressures in delivering a wide range of services for residents, it was no longer sustainable to continue subsidising parking services without recovering full costs, especially as further income opportunities had been thoroughly assessed and benchmarked. If these proposals were not implemented, equivalent reductions in other services would be necessary instead.   Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:   Option 1 – do not implement proposals   If chosen, this option would leave a modelled total subsidy (amount adrift from full cost of service recovery - see Appendix D) in the 2026/27 budget of £355,626 which would have to be found from other savings and service reductions.   This option is not recommended.   Option 3 – implement proposals with amendments   Any amendments made could vary the overall benefit of the proposals and this would need to be considered in respect of other identified savings elsewhere within the Councils budgets.   This option is not recommended.    Any Declarations of Interests Declared: None Any Dispensation Granted: None