Agenda item - Review of Parking Charges

Report to follow.

Resolved –

a) approves an increase in the discount for the Minster Badge to 30% of the standard parking charge, from the current 24%.

Reason: to minimise the impact of parking charges on residents.

b) maintains existing on-street parking charges on and inside the inner ring road, with the following exception at (c);

Reason: to ensure parking charges reflect the costs of congestion and contribute to Local Transport Strategy objectives.

c) approves the adjusting of charges in the Micklegate and Priory Street area to the ‘outside the inner ring road’ on-street parking rate, rather than its existing higher city centre rate. This will be reviewed in the future. City centre evening parking rates for this area will still apply.

Reason: To recognise the anomalously low charges in this area previously, and to allow local business time to adjust to future increases in parking rates.

d) maintains existing charging at all city centre car parks with the exception of Bishopthorpe Road, which it’s proposed is moved in line with charges approved for community car parks at East Parade and Rowntree Park in the council’s 2025-26 Budget.

e) approves a standard lower rate outside the inner ring road to apply to on-street parking, matching rates at Bishopthorpe Road, East Parade and Rowntree Park Car Parks.

f) approves that East Parade Car Park should remain matched to the ‘outer’ on-street local parking rate.

Reason: to ensure consistency across out of city centre parking and reflect the role and importance of local shopping areas to York’s economy.

g) removes the proposed charges for dedicated motorcycle bays.

Reason: to recognise that the motorcycle bays are generally in locations where a car space is not possible. The charge is also inconsistent with the on-street charge arrangements. This will be reviewed at a later date.

h) increases the discount for Low Emission vehicle permits to 20%, from the current 16% discount.

Reason: to set a discount that better reflects the contribution of all types of vehicles to congestion.

i) approve that Contract Parking permits are no longer linked to Season Tickets, and will be set at last year’s prices, plus circa 5% increase, with a 20% discount for low emission vehicles.

Reason: to recognise the unique circumstances of the small number of residents who live within the city walls without access to parking.

j) to undertake a review and develop a policy position around travel to places of worship.

Reason: to ensure consistency of approach and ensure the council is meeting its obligations under the Equalities Act.

k) should Executive approve a change to the amount paid for the low vehicle emission discount, Contract, Season and ResPark permits holders will be refunded the difference.

Reason: so that any change in policy does not adversely affect residents

l) To note that, if approved, the new charges will need to be advertised in accordance with legislation, meaning those charges implemented will be subject to a pending review under the Traffic Management Act 2004 Right to Challenge Parking Policies.

Reason: to ensure compliance with legislative requirements.

m)accept the challenge to review parking charges under the Traffic Management Act 2004 in respect of Bishopthorpe Road and initiate the review.

Reason: to ensure the council responds to the petitions submitted.

n) To approve that a further report will be brought back to Executive upon the conclusion of the review.

Reason: to set a clear process for carrying out such reviews.

o) To approve that the parking income budget is not changed at this time, whilst recognising the impact of the proposed changes could be in the region of £115k.

p) To request that updates on parking usage and income is included in quarterly finance and performance monitoring reports and any variances are considered within the whole council budget.

Reason: to ensure the impact on the parking budget is considered and remedial action is taken if necessary.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which presented proposals to change car parking charges for approval.

The following information was appended to the report:

- Bishopthorpe Road Petition;

- East Parade Petition;

- Parking Services; and

- Updated Equalities Impact Assessment.

The following officers were in attendance to present the report and respond to members’ questions and comments:

- Claire Foale, Chief Strategy Officer; and

- Patrick Looker, Assistant Director of Finance.

The following updates were provided by officers:

· All petitions were to be considered as part of the review, which included those that were still pending.

· A more detailed review was to be undertaken to include information and data on footfall, bus use, car park use, traffic and spend. The consultation was to be extended to include local community groups, business communities and visitor feedback.

· Independent analysis had been undertaken and published for public inspection, from January 2022 to April 2025.

Questions and comments were invited and the main areas of discussion were as follows:

· The need to develop a comprehensive parking strategy to address issues. A more effective consultation process was also required.

· In response, the Executive Member advised that traffic congestion was a key issue which had resulted in daily collisions, essential workers had been delayed and unable to undertake their work properly and lives were put at risk as emergency services were unable to attend to calls quickly. These issues were likely to get worse if not addressed.

· There had been significant investment in sustainable travel and improvements to highways. Raising parking charges was a proven way to tackle congestion with evidence to support its effectiveness.

· Executive had listened to the concerns of businesses and residents and reflected on the feedback provided. It was acknowledged that the budget consultation could have been more far reaching and that there were some areas where the new pricing was considered too much and too soon. The pricing model had been revised using a data led and evidence-based approach.

· It was also acknowledged that there had been significant challenge to the review of parking charges from the Bishopthorpe Road and Micklegate areas and that less vocal communities in other parts of the city such as the Groves, deserved the same level of recognition.

· Executive was committed to working together with local businesses and residents to agree a way forward and develop a constructive relationship to build positive motivators and develop sustainable travel.

Resolved (unanimously) –