Agenda item

Executive Mayor in Cabinet RESOLVED:

2.1       For the reasons set out in the report and appendices, the Executive Mayor in Cabinet is recommended to:

2.2       Authorise officers to undertake statutory consultation on the proposed parking charges which include:

2.2.1 To increase and retain the 1 hour free parking bays in district and local centres.

2.2.2 To introduce a new 2 hour maximum stay for all 1 hour free parking bays with a nominal charge for customers that require longer parking.

2.2.3 To increase to 1 hour the current 30 minute free parking arrangement in South End and Selsdon Road, South Croydon and London Road, West Croydon with new reduced fees for parking up to 2 hours so that all 1 hour free areas are consistent.

2.2.4 For Central Parade Car Park, to extend the 30 minute free parking arrangement to 1 hour, matching the existing free parking arrangement in the Central Parade service road.

2.2.5 To introduce a flat rate charge for on-street 12 hour maximum stay bays for parking events of more than 8 hours, reducing the current rates for long term parking.

2.2.6 Reduction in the parking charges for West Croydon Station Car Park so that the charges of Town Centre Car Parks are consistent.

2.2.7 New charges for parking permits as set out in Appendix A, with no increase in the resident permit charge for the highest band 5 charges, and increasing the charges for other bands, together with an adjustment of emission bandings, recognising the improved efficiency of vehicles. Page 1002

2.2.8 New On-street and Off-street (car parks) parking charges as set out in Appendix B and C, with an adjustment to the emissions bandings to reflect the improved efficiency of vehicles:

• Band 1 – emission vehicles (Electric Vehicles) – reduced discount from 90% to 25%

• Band 2 – emission vehicles – reduced discount from 25% to 15% and amending the band from 1 to 185 grams/km CO2 to 1 to 138 grams/km CO2.

• Band 3 – emission vehicles – no increase in the existing band 3 tariff and adjusting the band so that it commences for vehicles emitting more than 138 grams/km CO2 in place of the current 185 grams/km.

2.2.9  Increase in operational hours in district centre car parks from 7am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday to a 24 hour operation (Monday to Saturday) with a nominal flat fee (£2.20 for band 3 with 25% and 15% discounts for band 1 and 2 respectively) for parking between 6pm and 7am.

2.2.10 Standardise the no-return period for on-street parking from 1 to 2 hours for all payment bays.

2.2.11 Review of the permit charges for Housing residents and contractors.

2.3       Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Sustainable Communities, Regeneration and Economic Recovery, in consultation with the Executive Mayor and Cabinet Member for Streets and Environment, to give public statutory notice of the above proposals and subject to receiving no objections, make the necessary Traffic Management Orders under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended).

2.4       In the event that objections are received, delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Sustainable Communities, Regeneration and Economic Recovery in consultation with the Executive Mayor and Cabinet Member for Streets and Environment to consider the outcome of the consultation and determine whether Traffic Management Order/s under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended) should be introduced.

2.5       Note that the proposals will be reported to the Scrutiny Streets and Environment Sub[1]Committee, this proposed to be at it its upcoming meeting on 2 April 2024.

The Executive Mayor introduced the Proposed Parking Charge Amendments 2024/2025 highlighting additional benefits of the new parking policy for a fairer, simpler and consistent approach across the borough prior to a three week public consultation.

The Cabinet Member for Streets and Environment, Councillor Scott Roche, expanded on the benefits of the amendments for Cabinet, further highlighting on and off-street parking and other changes such as resident permits, emission-based discounts and an increase in free parking allocations to an hour for the benefit of shoppers and businesses. There will be a 21day statutory TOR consultation process prior to implementing the changes. The proposals support delivery of the additional income that was agreed in the MTF budget.

The Shadow Cabinet Member for Streets and Environment, Councillor Christopher Herman requested an outline of the improvements residents will see to their parking services.

The Executive Mayor responded that improvements had been outlined in his opening statement reiterating that the key improvement relates to free parking which would allow shoppers to stay longer in district centres helping local trading which is a key addition to parking services in Croydon. There are a number of initiatives to improve the parking conditions and most importantly support local traders. The Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Cummings added that Croydon must adapt to the number of vehicles that sit in the 90% category. The category for the most polluting vehicles were not changing as those vehicles often belong to those who do not have the financial resources to purchase expensive electric cars. The proposals are an update in line with technological advances focused on those who have the resources.

The Executive Mayor in Cabinet RESOLVED:

2.1      For the reasons set out in the report and appendices, the Executive Mayor in Cabinet is recommended to:

2.2      Authorise officers to undertake statutory consultation on the proposed parking charges which include:

2.2.1 To increase and retain the 1 hour free parking bays in district and local centres.

2.2.2 To introduce a new 2 hour maximum stay for all 1 hour free parking bays with a nominal charge for customers that require longer parking.

2.2.3 To increase to 1 hour the current 30 minute free parking arrangement in South End and Selsdon Road, South Croydon and London Road, West Croydon with new reduced fees for parking up to 2 hours so that all 1 hour free areas are consistent.

2.2.4 For Central Parade Car Park, to extend the 30 minute free parking arrangement to 1 hour, matching the existing free parking arrangement in the Central Parade service road.

2.2.5 To introduce a flat rate charge for on-street 12 hour maximum stay bays for parking events of more than 8 hours, reducing the current rates for long term parking.

2.2.6 Reduction in the parking charges for West Croydon Station Car Park so that the charges of Town Centre Car Parks are consistent.

2.2.7 New charges for parking permits as set out in Appendix A, with no increase in the resident permit charge for the highest band 5 charges, and increasing the charges for other bands, together with an adjustment of emission bandings, recognising the improved efficiency of vehicles. Page 1002

2.2.8 New On-street and Off-street (car parks) parking charges as set out in Appendix B and C, with an adjustment to the emissions bandings to reflect the improved efficiency of vehicles:

• Band 1 – emission vehicles (Electric Vehicles) – reduced discount from 90% to 25%

• Band 2 – emission vehicles – reduced discount from 25% to 15% and amending the band from 1 to 185 grams/km CO2 to 1 to 138 grams/km CO2.

• Band 3 – emission vehicles – no increase in the existing band 3 tariff and adjusting the band so that it commences for vehicles emitting more than 138 grams/km CO2 in place of the current 185 grams/km.

2.2.9       Increase in operational hours in district centre car parks from 7am to         6pm, Monday to Saturday to a 24 hour operation (Monday to          Saturday)  with a nominal flat fee (£2.20 for band 3 with 25% and        15% discounts for band 1 and 2 respectively) for parking between        6pm and 7am.

2.2.10     Standardise the no-return period for on-street parking from 1 to 2 hours for all payment bays

2.2.11     Review of the permit charges for Housing residents and   contractors.

2.3      Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Sustainable Communities, Regeneration and Economic Recovery, in consultation with the Executive Mayor and Cabinet Member for Streets and Environment, to give public statutory notice of the above proposals and subject to receiving no objections, make the necessary Traffic Management Orders under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended).

2.4      In the event that objections are received, delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Sustainable Communities, Regeneration and Economic Recovery in consultation with the Executive Mayor and Cabinet Member for Streets and Environment to consider the outcome of the consultation and determine whether Traffic Management Order/s under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (as amended) should be introduced.

2.5      Note that the proposals will be reported to the Scrutiny Streets and Environment Sub[1]Committee, this proposed to be at it its upcoming meeting on 2 April 2024.