Archived decisions

Contact: Dominic McGrath, ext 6594 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report seeks agreement for a further temporary consent for the New Forest Parking Clock Scheme. It also gives consent to St John's Street car park, Hythe being open to the public on market days.

2. Recommendations

2.1 That consent be given, in accordance with Section 39(3) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, to maintain a scheme for parking in New Forest District Council owned car parks which incorporates a `parking clock', subject to the following conditions:

(i) the payment clock system is permitted for two years only, from January 2008, ending December 2009; and

(ii) two classes of clock are permitted:

- a `shoppers' (short-stay) clock, initially at £10 per annum¹

- a `district wide' clock, initially at £80 per annum.

2.2 That the Director of Environment be given delegated authority to liaise with New Forest District Council officers to secure agreement to measures to prevent the potential abuse of the Hythe Ferry clock scheme, whilst maintaining the ongoing viability of the ferry service by ensuring that adequate affordable parking is available.

2.3 That consent be given, in accordance with Section 39(3) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, for the formal opening to the public of the St John's Street car park, Hythe on market days.

3. Introduction

3.1 All district and borough councils are required by legislation to seek consent from the County Council for the introduction or variation of Parking Orders governing the regulation of, and charging for, parking. The County Council can issue such consent either with or without conditions or restrictions attached.

3.2 New Forest District Council introduced charging in car parks in 2003. Consent for the parking scheme was issued by the County Council at that time, including a condition governing the `parking clock' element of the scheme. The condition was that the consent for the inclusion of parking clocks within the Order was temporary for a two year period. This was subsequently renewed in 2005 and expires in December 2007. The District Council has requested a further extension.

3.3 The District Council has also asked for consent for a revision to the Order to allow public parking in St John's Street car park, Hythe on market days.

4. Background

4.1 The parking clock is a form of permit which can be purchased at a number of outlets. In essence the clock is a parking permit exempting the holder from charges for a specified period of time in District-run car parks.

4.2 Although referred to generically as the Parking Clock Scheme, there are in fact a number of different types of `clock' available. These are:

(i) Long-stay Parking Clock - currently available at a cost of £80 per annum, this clock allows unlimited free parking, although users are still subject to other waiting restrictions or time limits that apply to the spaces they park in;

(ii) Short-stay Parking Clock - currently costing £8 per annum, this allows free parking for up to three hours although, again, subject to other local waiting restrictions;

(iii) Hythe Ferry Parking Clock - purchased at the same price as a short-stay parking clock but available to ferry users only; this clock operates as a long-stay clock in District Council car parks in Hythe and as a short-stay clock in Council car parks elsewhere in the district. This was introduced as a local variation to support the ongoing viability of the Hythe Ferry; and

(iv) Lyndhurst Community Centre Parking Clock - run on a similar basis to the Hythe Ferry clock, this clock applies to parking in Lyndhurst car park serving the village community centre, justified on the basis that the centre has no parking of its own.

4.3 The various clocks take the form of a cardboard dial, which allows the customer to indicate their arrival time in the car park. The clock is placed on the dashboard or other visible location and is subject to inspection in the same way as any parking permit.

4.4 Clocks are issued to cover a calendar year, running from January to the end of December and at a fixed cost regardless of the time of purchase. Unsurprisingly, most sales are achieved early in the year.

4.5 The District Council expects to issue approximately 52,000 clocks in 2007. Of these over 47,000 will be short-stay clocks. Further statistics about the scheme are available within the District Council report on the scheme, at http://www.newforestdc.gov.uk/committeedocs/cab/CDR02834.pdf.

4.6 The District Council proposes to maintain the existing price for long-stay clocks (£80) and increase the cost of short-stay clocks to £10 for 2008, subject to County Council approval of the scheme.

4.7 Due to car park improvements in St John's Street car park in Hythe, it is now possible to accommodate public parking in part of the car park on market days (Tuesdays). An amendment to the Order is required to regularise this arrangement. There are not considered to be any significant issues for the operation of the highway arising from this and the issuing of consent is recommended.

5. Assessment

5.1 In issuing its original approval for the scheme in 2003 the County Council's decision recorded that it wished to be assured that the clock system would address the following points:

(i) the charges are consistent with national and local policy objectives, in particular relating to the encouragement of travel by modes other than the private car;

(ii) the charging system should reflect the cost of provision and its management should not result in the costs being borne by the council taxpayer;

(iii) the charges should be introduced on a consistent basis and compare favourably with those existing in other surrounding authorities; and

(iv) the distribution arrangements for the clock should ensure that it is available to all users of the car parks.

5.2 The resolution required the setting up of a joint officer working group between the two authorities to examine these issues. Such a group has been established and has met regularly for this purpose. Officers from both authorities have found this contact to be both useful and constructive and there is considered to be value on both sides in continuing with this arrangement.

5.3 The long-stay parking clock was first introduced in 2006 and has gone part of the way towards addressing some of the above concerns, albeit that the cost remains some way short of the cost of long-stay permits in other parts of the county.

5.4 The District Council has indicated that it wishes to explore the potential for introducing on-street parking charges in some locations. It is examining the implications of exempting clock holders from these charges.

5.5 A further review is required to consider the operation of the Hythe Ferry clock. It is suggested that there is some misuse of the scheme, with people purchasing short-term ferry passes solely to gain access to the cheaper parking afforded by the clock. They are able to obtain long-stay parking within Hythe at a cost of £26.50, rather than paying the full cost of a long-stay clock (£80.00).

5.6 This causes problems with long-stay local parkers taking up spaces in car parks that serve the ferry. There are concerns that this could affect the future viability of the ferry, where patronage is already in decline. The Hythe Ferry service is already subsidised by the County Council and there are further additional cost pressures on the operator. Any further detraction to this service could impact adversely on the viability of the ferry.

6. Suggested Way Forward

6.1 The parking clock scheme has been in place for four years and is accepted and well understood locally. There is ongoing high demand for clocks and the District Council considers that the scheme supports the economic viability of towns and villages in the New Forest and assists in providing access to facilities from the rural areas.

6.2 Although the scheme is established there are a number of areas to address, including the potential application of the scheme to on-street parking and adjusting the scheme to minimise the potential for abuse of the Hythe Ferry clock.

6.3 In view of these factors, it is proposed that a further temporary consent for the scheme be issued for a period of two years, ending 31 December 2009.

7. Impact Assessments

7.1 There are no direct implications for disabled users of the car parks. Registered disabled badge holders are exempt from charges and bays are reserved for their use in New Forest District Council car parks. They are, therefore, neither affected nor disadvantaged by the parking clock scheme.

8. Conclusion

8.1 The County Council's consent is required to allow the ongoing operation of the Parking Clock Scheme. A temporary consent is recommended to facilitate partnership working on future developments and aspirations for the scheme.

8.2 The introduction of public market day parking in St John's Street car park, Hythe is not considered to have any implications for the safe operation of the highway network and consent is recommended.

1426Rpt/DMcG