Report by Parking Manager (attached)

The Committee considered a report by the Car Parking Manager (circulated previously) regarding Car Parking Strategy for North Devon.

The Head of Property, Place and Regeneration highlighted the following:

·         The draft Car Park Strategy 2024-2027 (as seen at Appendix A of the report) was a framework for how the Council would manage its parking services.

·         Car parking charges changes would still come to Members annually as part of the budget setting process.

·         The strategy identified the team structure delivering the car parking service and committed to providing the service in a positive and customer focused way.

·         Section 5 of the strategy (as seen in Appendix A of the report), set out the Council’s approach to charges and tariffs including permits, variety of payment methods as well as car park designation, business use, EV charging points, signage, our approach to third party car parks, parking bay sizes, coach and lorry parking and enforcement.

·         Section 6 of the strategy (as seen in Appendix A of the report), focused on the Council’s approach to our car parks in our main towns; Barnstaple, Ilfracombe and South Molton, recognising the different needs of these individual places.

·         Section 7 of the strategy (as seen in Appendix A of the report), dealt with the management of Council’s Coastal car parks.

·         Section 8 of the strategy (as seen in Appendix A of the report), set out the Council’s approach to monitoring the condition of its car parks and a further Programme for this was recognised as an Action later in the strategy.

·         Section 9 of the strategy (as seen in Appendix A of the report), set out the Service recommendations for improved service delivery over the four-year period of this strategy.

·         Section 10 of the strategy (as seen in Appendix A of the report), have regards to the following amendments:

Ø  Ensure that the website was actively updated to ensure accurate information was available for the public,

Ø  Include additional information about electric vehicular charging points, which could include a separate strategy; and

Ø  That the car parking strategy included the Council’s approach to managing abandoned and un-taxed vehicles in its car parks.

In response to a question on whether the strategy would be circulated to all members for input.  The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive advised that the strategy could be circulated to all members to note but that it was seeking adoption today.

In response to the classification of Croyde’s car park as Coastal and the associated costs, where it provided for locals who worked in the village.  The Chief Executive advised that workshops were held for members to have their say on budget setting issues and that a separate working group would be set up specifically for car park charges review for the coming financial year.

In relation to future withdrawing of cash payments for car parking.  The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive advised that the use of cash to pay to park would be kept under review but that there were no plans to remove this payment method. 

The Lead Member for Resources and Commercialisation was invited to comment, she welcomed the report and in particular, the freeing up of parking spaces due to abandoned vehicles and went on to advise the committee that many visitors to the area were often reluctant to use contactless methods for payment and preferred to use cash in car park machines.

RESOLVED that the Car Parking Strategy including the following minor amendments be adopted:

(a)  That the North Devon Council website is updated to ensure accurate information is available for the public;

(b)  To include additional information about electric vehicular charging points, which could include a separate strategy; and

(c)  To include North Devon Council’s approach to managing abandoned and untaxed vehicles within North Devon Council car parks.