Decision details

Town Centre Off Street Day Rate Car Park Charges - October 2021

Decision Maker: Executive Director: Delivery

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

The council reviews its fees and charges for its town centre car parks on an annual basis. This paper looks at options in respect of the off-street council run car parks in the town centre which are reviewed annually in September in line with the anniversary of the opening of the Lexicon in 2017.

Decision:

The proposed charging tariffs for The Avenue, High Street, Braccan Walk and Weather Way car parks from 1 October 2021 were noted as detailed in Table 2 Option 1 set out in the Executive Director: Delivery’s report and f approved by the Executive Director: Delivery.

Reasons for the decision:

The fees for The Avenue, High Street, Braccan Walk and Weather Way car parks are reviewed annually in line with the anniversary of the opening of The Lexicon. If the recommendation in this report are agreed and assuming that there is no year-on-year changes to the volume and dwell time of visitors, the proposed increases will generate an additional maximum of £90,000 per annum. At these rates, Bracknell Forest’s car parks would still remain more competitive than most other local retail centres

Alternative options considered:

The Council could maintain the current charges for The Avenue, High Street, Braccan Walk and Weather Way car parks. However this option is not recommended in the current budget circumstances as increasing current rates could generate additional income of up to £90,000 per annum if car park usage is 75% of 19/20 (pre-Covid). Covid-19 has had a significant detrimental impact on usage and income since March 2020 and whilst the Council has been in receipt of Government grants for loss of income these relate to 72% only and finished at the end of June 2021. Usage levels are not yet back to pre covid levels and as yet there is no real indication as to if/when this will occur.

 

If tariffs are not increased this year and increased in 12 months time in October 2022 then the increase will effectively be greater at that point which may be considered negatively by the customer.

Interests and Nature of Interests Declared:

None

Reason Key: Affects more than 1 ward;

Wards Affected: (All Wards);

Financial Impact: This increase is the maximum permitted under the car parking lease and represents a 4.2% increase on the current budgeted income for these car parks in 2021-22.

Declarations: None

Subject to Urgent Proceedings: No

Making Representations: In writing to the Executive Director: Delivery

Other reasons / organisations consulted

N/A

Consultees

N/A

Contact: Damian James, Assistant Director: Contract Services Email: damian.james@bracknell-forest.gov.uk Tel: 01344 355157.

Publication date: 25/09/2021

Date of decision: 17/09/2021

Effective from: 26/09/2021

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk