Issue - meetings

This report is to seek a decision by the Executive Member for Economy and Transport to agree to a consultation on the removal of cash payments to pay for parking across the car parking estate.

Resolved:

i.             That Option 1, the proposal to the proposal to consult members of the public to move to cashless payment methods across the parking estate then bring back to a future Executive Member Decision Session for decision to acknowledge the consultation findings and move to cashless payment methods, be approved.

Reason: In order for the Executive Member to make an informed decision and balance up the benefits and disbenefits to drop the acceptance of cash payments across the parking estate, leading on from the March 2021 budgetary decision.

The Executive Member considered a report which requested he agree to a consultation on the removal of cash payments to pay for parking across the car parking estate.

The Parking Services Manager presented the report and explained that this decision leads on from the Full Council budget decision in March 2021. He stated that around 60% of the pay and display machines only accept cash and many were 20-25 years old so the decision to go cashless would inform the specification and procurement of new upgraded machines. He then listed some motivations for cashless parking, such as the steady decline in cash payments being made for car parking where the use of cash was reduced to about 12% in 2022/23, theft of and damage to the machines, and the maintenance costs involved.

The Officer concluded by explaining that the consultation would look into the issues surrounding going cashless and that there would be a specific consultation through the York Access group, which in turn would help to update the Equality Impact Assessment before this item is returned to a future Decision Session. 

The Executive Member highlighted the importance of the Council being inclusive and equitable, and;

Resolved:

i.             That Option 1, the proposal to the proposal to consult members of the public to move to cashless payment methods across the parking estate then bring back to a future Executive Member Decision Session for decision to acknowledge the consultation findings and move to cashless payment methods, be approved.

Reason: In order for the Executive Member to make an informed decision and balance up the benefits and disbenefits to drop the acceptance of cash payments across the parking estate, leading on from the March 2021 budgetary decision.