This Council is opposed to plans recently outlined by the Labour-led administration to extend the period of charging in Council owned car parks to 8.00 p.m. from 2020/21. Council considers that after so many years effort to revitalise our town centres that this is a retrograde step that would harm a responsible evening economy, local businesses and shops. 

Council therefore resolves to oppose these proposals and respond to the budget consultation accordingly calling on this change and the proposed increase to be removed from the final budget proposals when issued.

(Note: Prior to consideration of this item, the time being 9.03 p.m., the Mayor indicated that the mover and seconder would have a maximum of 2 minutes each and that all other speeches would be limited to a maximum of one minute per speaker.)

It was moved and seconded that:

“This Council is opposed to plans recently outlined by the Labour-led administration to extend the period of charging in Council owned car parks to 8.00 p.m. from 2020/21. Council considers that after so many years effort to revitalise our town centres that this is a retrograde step that would harm a responsible evening economy, local businesses and shops.

Council therefore resolves to oppose these proposals and respond to the budget consultation accordingly calling on this change and the proposed increase to be removed from the final budget proposals when issued.”

It was moved and seconded as an amendment that:

“This Council notes plans recently outlined by the Labour-led administration to extend the period of charging in Council owned car parks to 8.00 p.m. from 2020/21. Council notes that charges for this and all other council car parking in the borough will be set at a level significantly lower (30% cheaper for the first 30 minutes) than the previous Conservative administration was charging as recently as March 2018. Council considers that reasonable car parking charges are one component of ensuring thriving town centres and supporting a responsible night time economy, along with a range of other factors including high quality public transport and active transport options.

Council therefore encourages all Members to review the proposals and respond to the budget consultation accordingly making their views clear as part of that process.”

Following a debate on the matter, the amendment was put to the vote and in accordance with Procedure Rule 16.5 a recorded vote was called for. This resulted as follows:

Those in favour of the amendment: Councillors Acton, Adshead, Baugh, Bennett, Bowker, Brophy, Brotherton, Coggins, Cordingley, Dillon, Duffield, Freeman, Harding, Hynes, Jarman, Jerrome, Lloyd, Longden, Malik, New, Patel, Procter, Ross, Slater, Stennett, Thomas, Walsh, A. Western, D. Western, Whitham, Whyte, Williams and Wright.

Those against the amendment: Councillors S.A. Anstee, S.K. Anstee, Dr. Barclay, Miss Blackburn, Boyes, Mrs. Bruer-Morris, Bunting, Butt, Carey, Chilton, Coupe, Mrs. Evans,  N. Evans, Mrs. Haddad, Holden, Hopps, Hyman, Lally, Lamb, Mitchell, Myers, Sharp, Shaw, Whetton, M. Young and Mrs. P. Young.

With the result of the vote being 33 in favour and 26 against, with 0 abstentions, the amendment was declared carried.

The substantive Motion was then put to the vote and this resulted as follows:

Those in favour of the substantive Motion: Councillors Acton, Adshead, Baugh, Bennett, Bowker, Brophy, Brotherton, Coggins, Cordingley, Dillon, Duffield, Freeman, Harding, Hynes, Jarman, Jerrome, Lloyd, Longden, Malik, New, Patel, Procter, Ross, Slater, Stennett, Thomas, Walsh, A. Western, D. Western, Whitham, Whyte, Williams and Wright.

Those against the substantive Motion: Councillors S.A. Anstee, S.K. Anstee, Dr. Barclay, Miss Blackburn, Boyes, Mrs. Bruer-Morris, Bunting, Butt, Carey, Chilton, Coupe, Mrs. Evans,  N. Evans, Mrs. Haddad, Holden, Hopps, Hyman, Lally, Lamb, Mitchell, Myers, Sharp, Shaw, Whetton, M. Young and Mrs. P. Young.

With the result of the vote being 33 in favour and 26 against, with 0 abstentions, the substantive Motion was declared carried.

RESOLVED: That this Council notes plans recently outlined by the Labour-led administration to extend the period of charging in Council owned car parks to 8.00 p.m. from 2020/21. Council notes that charges for this and all other council car parking in the borough will be set at a level significantly lower (30% cheaper for the first 30 minutes) than the previous Conservative administration was charging as recently as March 2018. Council considers that reasonable car parking charges are one component of ensuring thriving town centres and supporting a responsible night time economy, along with a range of other factors including high quality public transport and active transport options.

Council therefore encourages all Members to review the proposals and respond to the budget consultation accordingly making their views clear as part of that process.