Parking – proposed changes to tariffs and charging
Consultation has concluded
We are proposing changes to our parking tariffs and charging.
We regularly review and revise all charges as part of our ongoing cycle of budget management, to allow for rising costs and inflation, and to ensure that we can continue to provide services to residents and businesses.
This is your opportunity to find out more about the proposals and have your say.
Why are we doing this?
Parking fees across the Borough were last increased in 2019. Over this period, inflation has increased by 28%.
The proposed changes will bring the Council’s tariffs in line with the cost of inflation. Further reviews will be required on a more regular basis to ensure tariffs keep pace with the costs of delivering these services.
While we continue to work hard to become even more efficient and reduce running costs where possible, we also need to take decisions on increases to charges and fees, to ensure we can continue to balance our budgets and provide essential and discretionary services to our residents.
The Council’s proposed parking charges are significantly lower than public sector averages, and local private sector parking charges.
The set of proposals to changes to parking fees and charges has been carefully considered to ensure they are fair and proportionate. They will allow us to continue to offer competitive pricing locally for parking and visits to our town and neighbourhood centres.
What is proposed: Full proposals (Opens in new window)
You can read the full proposals presented to Cabinet on 12 September 2023. This report gives more information on the reasons for these proposals, and sets out how the tariff changes will support the Council to serve its residents.
List of proposed changes: Summary
You are invited to have your say on these proposed changes:
- Car parking tariffs increase by 28% rounded up to the nearest 10 pence (Excluding Water Gardens (North), Water Gardens (South) and Moor End, which will see lower increases).
- On-street tariff increases – Minimum cost for on-street parking set at £2 per hour.
- Changing on-street ‘Limited Wait Bays’ in town centre locations to chargeable spaces.
- Extending the operating hours of the car parks.
- Introducing new longer stay off-street tariffs as a result of the extended operating hours.
- Consolidating off-street (car parks) short stay sessions to introduce a new minimum 2 hour stay.
- Opening up the upper level of the Water Gardens car park for public use during Monday to Friday.
- Reducing free parking sessions from 1 hour to 45 minutes.
Equalities Impact Assessment
We have completed an initial Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) for these proposals. The EqIA identifies and examines in more detail what positive and negative impacts these proposals may have on individuals with protected characteristics together with our equality objectives and how we propose to mitigate any negative impacts.
The impacts and mitigations described within the EqIA will be considered as part of the decision-making process on the proposals. The EqIA will be kept under review and updated to reflect any relevant new information, including information which comes in as part of the consultation process.
How you can find out more
Visit the document library for:
- A document outlining the full proposals
- Our initial Equalities Impact Assessment document
- A copy of our consultation survey in case you would prefer to respond in writing
To translate this page into another language, please use the ‘Select language’ button at the bottom of this page.
What happens next?
Once the consultation ends on 19 October 2023 (midnight), we will consider all the responses received and prepare a consultation report.
The consultation report will help us reach a decision about whether, and how we make changes to tariffs and charging policies.
The report will be available to everyone that takes part in the consultation and a copy will be published on our website.
