OSDM.2/16
The meeting considered
a report that set out proposals for fees and charges for all
services for 2017/18.
In discussion,
reference was made to:-
(a)
the findings of the Events Task and Finish Group. It was confirmed that the Group would be
presenting its final recommendations in the upcoming
months. As a principle, a Member
proceeded to emphasise his opposition to the Council continuing to
offer an exemption for events on its land that were being held for
charity events;
(b)
play area inspections. Officers confirmed
that the play area inspections service was subject to open
competition, with other providers also able to bid to undertake
these works. However, it was also noted
that the proposed increase in charges
(from £100 + VAT to £130 + VAT) was still a very
competitive price;
(c)
car parking charges. A number of Members
expressed their disappointment at the lack of related information
that had been made available to this meeting. As a consequence, Members felt that it was
difficult to be able to make a recommendation on car parking
charges without being in receipt of modelling work in relation to
factors such as: comparative analysis figures; the projected impact
of different percentage price increases; and the proposed increases
shown in monetary value. In response,
Members were reminded of the ‘Community-led tariff’
approach that had been adopted by the Council. This approach enabled Members to agree an income
target for the whole district, with a consultation exercise then
being undertaken with local communities around how their allotted
proportion of the total income could be best achieved.
Nonetheless, based upon the information provided,
some Members were of the view that they could not recommend any
increase in car parking charges and the following motion was
PROPOSED and SECONDED as
follows:
‘That car parking charges be
frozen for 2017/18.’
In discussion, some Members felt that this motion
was too restrictive at this time and, such was the budgetary
pressures facing the Council, that it
was incumbent that consideration was given to increasing car park
charges.
When put to the vote, this motion was declared
LOST.
A further motion related to car parking charges was
then PROPOSED and SECONDED as
follows:
‘That further modelling
work be undertaken (and presented to the Executive meeting on 2
February 2017) on car park charges being increased by either 1% or
2%.’
Having been invited to express their views, officers
confirmed that they were confident that both the 1% and 2% increase
options were achievable.
When put to the vote, this motion was declared
CARRIED.
In addition, a Member asked that consideration be
given to any increased income that was generated from car park
charges being used to upgrade the appearance of the car
parks. Taking this point a step
further, officers also gave a commitment to investigate the merits
of installing electric charging points and solar energy schemes at
Council owned car parks.
Finally on car parking charges, during the community
consultation exercise, a Member ...
view the full minutes text for item OSDM.2/16