1 THE ISSUE

1.1 This report addresses differences in on street parking charges across Bath city centre, reviews permit prices, Sunday charging and considers the removal of the exemption for Blue Badge holders to park free of charge in off street pay and display car parks.

2 RECOMMENDATION

The Cabinet member is asked to agree that:

2.1 A Traffic Regulation Order be advertised to alter the prices of the various permits and allocations as proposed in 7.1 to 7.4 of this report and if no objections are received, to implement as advertised.

2.2 A Tariff Regulation Order be advertised to alter the existing tariff charges and conditions as proposed in 7.5 to 7.8 of this report and, if no objections are received, to implement as advertised.

3 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

3.1. The forecast Parking result for 2007/8 contains a £840K budget deficit, offset by a positive variance on bus lane enforcement. In addition we face an estimated deficit on our concessionary fares funding of a further £610K. These proposals increase the estimated total parking income of £6.6m in 2008/9 by £516k. Approximately £2K of this sum will be derived outside of Bath. Therefore the effect of these proposals partly mitigates these deficits.

3.2. The financial impact of each proposal is shown in the report. These proposals were approved by Council in its budget meeting on 19^th February 2008 and include some amendments made following consultation with interested parties.

4. COMMUNITY STRATEGY OUTCOMES

• Improving our local transport
• Improving our local economy
• Improving our local environment

5. CORPORATE IMPROVEMENT PRIORITIES

• Improving the Quality of Public Transport/Roads/Pavements and easing congestion
• Developing a sustainable economy
• Improving the public realm

6. CPA KEY LINES OF ENQUIRY

• Prioritisation of ambitions
• Increasing capacity of the council to deliver ambition for the Community to ensure we achieve what we say we will
• Creating and developing a better quality of life for the area through Sustainable Communities and Transport

7. THE REPORT

7.1 Visitor Parking Permits

7.1.1 Currently Bath Central Zone residents do not have a visitor permit allocation because parking spaces are at such a premium in central parts of the city.

7.1.2 In Parking zones 1 - 12 Bath households have an allocation of 100 visitor permits or 200 if 60 years old or over. The current charge is £5 for 25 permits.

At present, it is possible to purchase visitor permits in two ways - by paying £5 for 25 paper permits or £5 for 250 hours via a "transponder card". This price has not changed since the introduction of permits 5-6 years ago. A paper permit provides for one visit during the day whereas a transponder card provides 250 hours. Residents can activate and deactivate their electronic permit by telephone / internet, thereby managing their allocated hours effectively. This latter method is particularly useful for residents whose visitors only stay for short durations.

Doctors and Nurses and local authority care workers have permits costing £50 to allow them to visit patients/ customers in their own homes. These permits are not restricted to Health Authority or B&NES staff.

7.1.3 Recommendation

All residential households within Zones 1-12 be eligible for 100 ("day") permits per year at a cost of £1 each £25 for 25 permits to a maximum of 100 per year or £25 for 250 hours. We propose no increase in the £50 annual charge to nurses and carers permits.

This proposal increases visitors permit income from an estimated £15K to £67K.

7.1.4. Comparisons These new charges would remain broadly competitive with other similar Councils - see below:

Bath proposed £1 per day or £1 per 10 hours

Cornwall £1 per day

Dover £1 per day

High Wycombe £1 per day

Stratford £3 per day

Tunbridge Wells £10 per 10

York £5 per 5

Cambridge £5 per 5

Bristol no visitor permits

7.2 Residents Parking Permits

7.2.1 Central Zone households are currently permitted one permit per household at a charge of £66 per annum. There are 1157 permits within the Central Zone and the price was last increased by 10% in 2005/6.

7.2.2. Recommendation to increase the charge of the Central Zone permit to £85 in order to manage congestion and traffic numbers in accordance with our Local Transport Plan objectives. This proposal increases income from an estimated £76K to £88K.

7.2.3. In Zones 1 - 12, households are permitted up to two permits per household (the first £55 costing and the second £82 per annum). Currently there are 2486 first permits issued and 540 second permits issued.

7.2.4. Recommendation to increase the charge for a residents' permit within Zones 1-12 to £88 p.a. for the first and £130 p.a. for the second permit. This proposal increases income from £181K to £257K

7.2.5. In Keynsham, the current resident parking permit price is £20 per annum for the first permit and £10 for the second. It is proposed to increase this cost to £25 per year for the first and £15 per year for the second. These prices have not increased since the scheme's introduction. There are ten households in Keynsham who currently hold permits

7.2.6. Recommendation to increase the charge for residents permits in Keynsham to £25 for the 1^st and £15 for the 2^nd permit per household.

7.2.7. In addition, following consultation with residents, we are considering improvements to the parking arrangements in Lower Lansdown (possibly restricting some of the dual use bays for residents' use only), and consider adding some limited waiting bays.

7.2.8 Comparisons - Enquiries have been made with other local authorities and comparisons (shown below) demonstrate that the charges for Bath would remain competitive with similar tourist cities after the increase proposed in this report:

Bath proposed £85 / £88 / £130

Bristol £50 considering a 2^nd permit £100

Dorset £60

Edinburgh £80 £160 in Central Zone

Hastings £52

Reading £55

York £88 1^st £130 2^nd

7.3 Business Permits

7.3.1 In the Central Zone, no permit allocation is made due to proximity of public car parks. It is not proposed to introduce a business permit for use in the Central Zone.

7.3.2 In Zones 1 - 12, the current permit prices are £60 (for the first permit) and £90 for the second; prices were last increased in 2005/6. Currently there are 164 first permits and 91 second permits.

7.3.3. Recommendation to increase the annual charge to £100 for the first permit and £150 for the second to reflect market comparisons. This increases estimated income from £18K to £28K

7.3.4 Comparisons - The proposed charges suggest that Bath remains broadly competitive:

Bath proposed £100 / 150

Birmingham £125 (Gun quarter)

Cornwall £100

Harrogate £100

Luton £378

Portsmouth £200

Reading £50

Stoke on Trent £150

Thanet £300

Watford £250

York none issued

7.4 Hotel, Guest Houses and B&B

7.4.1 These Bath businesses are entitled to one permit per bedroom at a cost of £50 per year, for properties in Parking Zones 1-12. This charge has not been increased since permits were introduced. Currently there are 123 users of these permits. No permits are issued to any businesses within the central zone (see above) however, landlords of such properties who require access to maintain and service their properties may pay £1,000 per year to park within any of the zones, or £350 to park in a maximum of 3 zones.

7.4.2 We have received complaints regarding abuse by some establishments who allegedly issue permits for staff to park and / or charge guests to use the permits.

7.4.3. Recommendation Premises with up to 5 guest rooms should retain their one permit per bedroom allocation. Premises with 6 or more bedrooms be allocated one permit per room to a maximum of 15. The charge has not changed since permits were introduced.

7.4.4 It is proposed to increase the current price from £50 to £75 per year per permit for the first 5 permits, then £100 for 6-10, £150 for 11+ to a maximum of 15 permits. These broadly relates to an average of £75 per permit, below the proposed business permit charge above and an increase of 50% on the current £50 charge. This partly reflects inflation since permits introduction and also attempts to minimise potential abuse of the system by escalating the charge. This proposal increases income from an estimated £6K to £12K.

7.4.5. Comparisons - It was not possible to find a comparable permit elsewhere

7.5 Disabled "Blue Badge" permits

7.5.1 Disabled ("Blue Badge") permit holders currently pay if they enter the pay on foot car parks in Avon and Charlotte Street. There are 9,000 badges in B&NES. If disabled drivers park within any other paid for parking place, either on or off street, they may park without charge.

7.5.2 Removing the exemption for Blue Badge holders at all pay and display locations (Bath & Keynsham) would achieve consistency with pay on foot arrangements and with other similar Councils. The spokesperson for WECIL (a local organisation in contact with all local groups for the disabled) was contacted and her views obtained on this proposal. She confirmed that their members do not object to paying for parking; she did however ask that better provision be made for Blue Badge holders to improve access across the city giving prime locations, wider bays, and improved pedestrian kerb crossings. We have therefore recently advertised alterations to create additional bays for blue badge holders on Milsom Street and New Bond Street in order to improve disabled access in this area of the City.

7.5.3. Recommendation to remove the current exemption from all pay and display car parks (Bath & Keynsham) and require blue badge holders to pay the tariff for that car park. We do not propose any on street charges for disabled blue badge users - disabled drivers will be able to park free of charge on street. This proposal generates an estimated additional £44K income from disabled drivers who will in future pay for their spaces and also from other drivers using "general" spaces which become available as a result of this proposal. Approximately £800 of this sum will be derived from outside of Bath.

7.5.4 Comparisons - Yeovil has just removed the exemption for Blue Badge holders to park free in all their car parks. Many other tourist locations including coastal resorts have adopted this, including Bridlington and Scarborough in Yorkshire. In North Somerset, blue badge holders are expected to pay in the pay and display car parks but they are allowed up to one hour to return to the car park after the expiry of their pay and display ticket.

7.6 Sunday & Evening Charges

7.6.1 Currently Bath car parks have a reduced tariff for parking on Sundays.

For example, the charge for parking in Charlotte Street Mon-Sat is:

up to 4 hours £4.00

4-6 hours £6.00

6-11hours £8.00

on Sunday it is:

up to 2 hours £1.00

2-4 hours £2.00

4-6 hours £3.00

over 6 hours £4.00

7.6.2. Recommendation to remove the reduction in tariff for Sundays and introduce a seven day tariff to apply throughout the year from 8am each morning to 8pm each evening. This is in line with other similar cities where there is sometimes an increased charge applicable on Saturdays and is consistent with the growth in the weekend economy. This proposal produces an estimated additional income of £84K.

7.6.3 Comparisons - Bristol and Portsmouth, for example, do not have a reduced tariff for Sunday shoppers and visitors. Each day of the year the same charge applies.

Oxford / York - have an increase charge on Saturdays, no reduction on Sundays.

7.6.3. In Bath, we do not charge for parking in car parks after 6pm.

7.6.4. Recommendation change the time at which car park charges cease to from 7pm to 8pm.

Charges would not apply after 6pm on street.

This generates an estimated £157K in additional income.

Comparisons

Cambridge £0.50-0.80p per hour after 5pm

Cheltenham charges to 8pm in 12 car parks including Sundays / Bank holidays

York charges £2 fixed rate 6pm - 6am, Chester £1.50

7.7 On Street Charges

7.7.1. We have long recognised that we need to address some anomalies in on street parking charges. For example, the charge for 2 hours parking in Bennet Street and the Circus is £3, whereas Laura Place and Gt Pulteny Street is £2. This anomaly encourages drivers to park in the most congested area and is inconsistent with our LTP objectives.

7.7.2 Recommendation to increase the on street parking prices in Zone 1 listed above to the same tariff as the on street charges within the Outer Central Zone as below. This proposal produces an additional estimated £60k income

7.8 Season Permits

7.8.1 Currently we have season permits in Charlotte Street, Avon Street, Manvers Street and Corn Street car parks it is proposed to increase the annual price of these permits by 1%

7.8.2 Recommendation therefore the annual price for season permits will be

8. RISK MANAGEMENT

The report author and Executive member have fully reviewed the risk assessment related to the issue and recommendations, in compliance with the Council's decision making risk management guidance.

9. RATIONALE

The proposals are designed to meet the aims of our Parking Strategy and to help reduce congestion and improve air quality in Bath, consistent with our LTP objectives.

10. OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED

Various pricing options have been considered and discussed with relevant stakeholders. These proposals represent a balance between the need to balance Parking budgets, achieve LTP objectives and meet the needs of the community.

11. CONSULTATION

a) Cabinet Member for Customer Services, other B&NES Services; Service Users; Local Residents; other Public Sector Bodies, Federation of Residents Association and B.I.G.H.A.

b) Letters, meetings and public consultation have and will take place using notices on site for a 21day period. An item in the public notice section of the Bath Chronicle will take place as part of the public consultation process for the Traffic Regulation Order.

12. ISSUES TO CONSIDER IN REACHING THE DECISION

Customer Focus; Corporate; Health & Safety; Other Legal Considerations

13. ADVICE SOUGHT

The Council's Monitoring Officer and Section 151 Officer have had the opportunity to input to this report and have cleared it for publication.