Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services and Communities (copy enclosed).

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services and Communities seeking Members’ approval to replace the Council’s existing pay-and-display parking machines.

The Director of Neighbourhood Services and Communities presented the report advising that the Council’s existing pay?and?display machines were no longer sustainable due to age, obsolescence and rising maintenance issues, creating risks to service continuity, customer experience and the Council’s £2m annual parking income. It was reported that a replacement programme would provide a modern, reliable and cost?effective solution that aligned with current customer behaviour, with the capital purchase option offering the best long?term value. Evidence showed that customers had already shifted significantly towards cashless payments, meaning the current machines were under?used; therefore, rationalising the number of machines would better match demand, increase income per machine, reduce maintenance costs and do so without materially affecting accessibility.

The Chairperson moved the recommendations set out in the report and this was duly seconded.

In response to questions raised the Director of Neighbourhood Services and Communities advised that the option to pay by cash had been removed from all Council car parks a number of years ago and Officers were not looking to reverse that decision. Pay as you exit would be considered as part of this proposal and the new machines would have functionality to accommodate this should the Council wish to introduce that payment method. In respect of a barrier for exit only, Officers advised that a review of all car parks would be required to ascertain whether this was practical or not.

Councillor J R Burrell-Cook referred to the loss of income from being cashless and proposed that recommendation (i) be amended to include pay on exit as an option. This amendment was duly seconded.

The Director of Finance reminded Members of the discussions that had taken place at the Finance Working Group when considering these proposals. Officers highlighted the need to ensure that the income stream of £2 million was safeguarded along with issues regarding reliability with the current machines.

During the debate that followed, a number of Members commented on the proposal as set out in the report and alternative solutions including the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems and pay as you leave were raised. In response the Senior Car Park and Community Safey Officer provided further information on the options considered and the ongoing need for enforcement officers due to the Council having to issue physical penalty notices.

In response to a question regarding the proposed removal of the car parking machine at the Promenade Park Coach Park, Members were advised that this decision had been made as there had been an unreliable service from the machine and a large proportion of payments were made using the RingGo cashless payment system. It was clarified that parking was free for those users who had a disabled parking permit.

The Chairperson then moved the proposed amendment to recommendation (i) in the name of Councillor Burrell-Cook. Upon a vote being taken this was not agreed. He then put the recommendations set out in the report and upon a vote being taken these were agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)             that the replacement of the existing pay and display machines with fit for purpose, modern and updated alternatives be approved;

(ii)            that the rationalisation of machine provision from twenty-one (21) to twelve (12), informed by current usage data and reflecting the increasing uptake of parking app payments be approved;

(iii)           that the machines are procured via capital purchase (not leased) as the most cost-effective option and that capital funding to the value of £100,000 is approved;

(iv)           that the transition toward contactless and, where appropriate, ticketless parking operations be endorsed;

(v)            that the intention to align parking systems with wider Mid Essex arrangements be noted.