ModernGov - bristol.gov.uk

1. Within the context of Bristol’s Transport Policy, the Council needs to consider a range of initiatives to further improve air quality and make more efficient use of on and off street, public car parking spaces, whilst considering how the management of these spaces can help driver behaviour change towards sustainable modes of travel. There is a need to maximise the use of kerb space, given increasing demands for car clubs, cycle hangars, scooter parking and EV (Electric Vehicle) charging, all set alongside a range of other uses such as pocket parklets, trees and commercial use through licensing.

2. The evidence base outlines proposals to make changes to parking charges to keep up with inflation, to rationalise any anomalies and to ensure that the cost of the first Residents’ Parking Permit covers the full cost of current operations.

3. The report also notes the need for an integrated approach and recommends setting up a Task and Finish Group to develop and deliver a holistic Parking and Kerbside Strategy.

4. This paper seeks the Committee’s approval to implement these recommended proposals and provides other options considered.

The Policy Committee:

1. Initiated a Task and Finish Group, to be chaired by Cllr Rob Bryher, to make recommendations to the committee for a modern and holistic Parking and Kerbside Strategy.

2. Residents Parking

a. Approve and implement increase of £56 to £124 for first vehicle permit tariffs.

b. Approved all RPS permit types going forward are included within the Council’s Fees and Charges so that an inflationary increase is made every year (rounded to the nearest whole numbers).

c. Approve and implement price alignment for all Easton (ES) RPS permits with the prevailing rates for other RPS over a two year period to remove the pricing anomaly, noting that the budget implications for this increase are negligible. Subject to further financial and equalities assessment delegated to officers in consultation with the Chair

3. RPS Business, Customer, Medical & Trader Permits and Visitor Permits

a. Approved a rounded 22% inflationary increase to medical, trader, business & customer permits.

b. Approved introducing a charge for all Visitor Permits (excluding Essential Visitor Permits for care needs). That charge to be aligned with the prevailing hourly Pay and Display Rate and remove the additional allowance per household.

4. RPS Pay and Display changes and removal of 30m free parking in the RPS (New Proposals)

a. Approved a rounded 22% inflationary increase to RPS Pay and Display rate to £2 per hour.

b. Approved the principle of an additional uplift to Pay and Display rates in specified RPS areas to reflect demand and encourage turnover of spaces, and its application in Clifton Village RPS, Kingsdown RPS & Clifton East RPS.

6. Approved the implementation of competitive early bird charging at Temple Gate and West End MSCPs and monitoring of the impacts.

7. Implement an inflation-based charge only. Refer consideration of a change to linear charging to the Parking Strategy Task and Finish Group, reporting back to the committee in 2025. Subject to further financial and equalities assessment delegated to officers in consultation with the Chair.

8. Delegates authority to the Executive Director, Growth and Regeneration to implement the approved proposals.

* Recommendations 4c and 5 were not approved.

The Committee considered a report that sought approval for a range of initiatives to further improve air quality and make more efficient use of on and off street, public car parking spaces, whist considering the management of spaces to help driver behaviour change towards sustainable modes of travel.

The Head of Highways outlined the report to Members and it was confirmed that each recommendation would be considered in turn.

Recommendation 1 – Need for a Parking and Kerbside Strategy.

A Task and Finish Group had been proposed to develop a Parking and Kerbside Strategy. The strategy would cover issues on the road and pavement including how to use streetspace and make space healthy and accessible. It was proposed that the Task and Finish Group be chaired by Councillor Rob Bryher.

The recommendation was moved by Councillor Plowden and seconded by Councillor Edwards. On being put to the vote the recommendation was CARRIED unanimously.

1. It was APPROVED that a Task and Finish Group be initiated to be chaired by Cllr Rob Bryher, to make recommendations to the committee for a modern and holistic Parking and Kerbside Strategy.

Recommendation 2 – Residents Parking Scheme (RPS) – First Permit increase and realignment of Easton & St Philips RPS alongside First Permit increase.

Councillors requested consideration of how to mitigate the impact of RPS on surrounding areas, plans for reviews and implementation of RPS in new areas. This was suggested as a topic for above Task & Finish Group.

It was confirmed that the first car permit covered costs with any excess of income from subsequent car permits then ringfenced to the transport budget.

It was clarified that the decision had been approved by the previous administration but the implementation delayed and it was not a part of the implemented 2024/25 budget. The decision had returned to Policy Committee for further consideration.

Recommendation 2A was moved by Councillor Plowden and seconded by Councillor Morris. On being put to the vote the recommendation was CARRIED (6 members voting in favour, none against with 3 abstentions)

It was APPROVED

2a. Residents Parking - Approve and implement increase of £56 to £124 for first vehicle permit tariffs.

Recommendation 2B was moved by Councillor Plowden and seconded by Councillor Wilcox. On being put to the vote the recommendation was CARRIED unanimously.

It was APPROVED

2b. Residents Parking - Approved all RPS permit types going forward are included within the Council’s Fees and Charges so that an inflationary increase is made every year (rounded to the nearest whole numbers).

Recommendation 2C was moved by Councillor Plowden and seconded by Councillor Edwards.

Councillor Wilcox moved an amendment to the report as follows:

c. Approve and implement price alignment for all Easton (ES) RPS permits with the prevailing rates for other RPS over a two year period to remove the pricing anomaly, noting that the budget implications for this increase are negligible. Subject to further financial and equalities assessment delegated to officers in consultation with the Chair

The amendment was seconded by Councillor Bryher

Councillor Wilcox highlighted that the ward of Easton was one of the most deprived areas of the city and the amendment effectively extended the time taken to increase the rate for that RPS area.

On being put to the vote the amendment was CARRIED (5 members voting in favour and 1 against. There were 3 abstentions)

A vote was then held for Recommendation 2C as amended. On being put to the vote the recommendation was CARRIED unanimously.

It was APPROVED

c. Residents Parking - Approve and implement price alignment for all Easton (ES) RPS permits with the prevailing rates for other RPS over a two year period to remove the pricing anomaly, noting that the budget implications for this increase are negligible. Subject to further financial and equalities assessment delegated to officers in consultation with the Chair

Recommendation 3 – RPS Business, Customer, Medical and Trader Permits and Visitor Permits

Recommendation 3A was moved by Councillor Plowden and seconded by Councillor Bryher. On being put to the vote the recommendation was CARRIED unanimously.

It was APPROVED

3a. RPS Business, Customer, Medical & Trader Permits and Visitor Permits - Approved a rounded 22% inflationary increase to medical, trader, business & customer permits.

Recommendation 3B was moved by Councillor Plowden and seconded by Councillor Bryher. On being put to the vote the recommendation was CARRIED unanimously.

It was APPROVED

3b. RPS Business, Customer, Medical & Trader Permits and Visitor Permits - Approved introducing a charge for all Visitor Permits (excluding Essential Visitor Permits for care needs). That charge to be aligned with the prevailing hourly Pay and Display Rate and remove the additional allowance per household.

Recommendation 4 - RPS Pay and Display changes and removal of 30minutes Free parking in the RPS

Recommendation 4A was moved by Councillor Plowden and seconded by Councillor Morris. On being put to the vote the recommendation was CARRIED unanimously.

It was APPROVED:

4a. RPS Pay and Display changes - Approved a rounded 22% inflationary increase to RPS Pay and Display rate to £2 per hour.

Recommendation 4B was moved by Councillor Plowden and seconded by Councillor Bryher. On being put to the vote the recommendation was CARRIED (8 members voting in favour, 0 against with 1 abstention.

It was APPROVED:

4b. RPS Pay and Display changes - Approved the principle of an additional uplift to Pay and Display rates in specified RPS areas to reflect demand and encourage turnover of spaces, and its application in Clifton Village RPS, Kingsdown RPS & Clifton East RPS.

Recommendation 4C was moved by Councillor Plowden and seconded by Councillor Bryher.

“Recommendation 4c

Approves the removal of the 30-minute free parking tariff in all RPS.”

Councillors asked for further work to find if there was another option available to close the loophole and stop abuse of the system.

On being put to the vote the recommendation was LOST (4 members voting in favour, 5 against).

Recommendation 5 - District Car Park Charging

The recommendation was moved by Councillor Plowden and seconded by Councillor Bryher.

“Recommendation 5.

Approves implementation of charging at the District Car Parks as soon as possible”

Councillor Clark moved an amendment to the report as follows:

Approve implementation of charging at the District Car Parks as soon as possible, subject to free parking being available at the following sites:

Westbury hill - 90 minutes free parking

Repton road - 60 minutes free parking

Callington Road/West Town Lane - 60 minutes free parking.

Subject to further financial and equalities assessment delegated to officers in consultation with the Chair

The amendment was seconded by Councillor Morris.

Councillor Clark highlighted that people who may not be able to use public transport would be disadvantaged by not having somewhere to park to visit their local shops and the local area. That could either result in parking on surrounding streets or pushing customers to larger supermarkets with car parking.

Officers confirmed that the proposal had been approved within the 2023/24 budget passed by Full Council although implementation had been delayed for 1 year. Not passing the recommendation presented would impact the transport budget creating a deficit.

On being put to the vote the amendment was LOST (2 members voting in favour and 7 against)

On being put to the vote the recommendation was LOST (4 members voting in favour and 5 against)

Officers agreed to return to the Policy Committee with proposals for how to balance the budget in other ways to be considered by the Policy Committee.

Recommendation 6 - Temple Gate & West End Multi Storey Car Parks

The recommendation was moved by Councillor Plowden and seconded by Councillor Morris. On being put to the vote the recommendation was CARRIED unanimously.

It was APPROVED:

6. Approved the implementation of competitive early bird charging at Temple Gate and West End MSCPs and monitoring of the impacts.

Recommendation 7 - Linear Pricing

The recommendation was moved by Councillor Plowden and seconded by Councillor Bryher.

There was some concern regarding the impact of the proposals for Linear Pricing on the nighttime economy and safety of women, particularly when considering the last bus times for park and ride services.

It was suggested that more work is needed and it could be added to the discussion points of the Supported Bus Services T&F Group and Parking and Kerbside Strategy.

Councillor Rippington moved an amendment to the report as follows;

7. Implement an inflation-based charge only. Refer consideration of a change to linear charging to the Parking Strategy Task and Finish Group, reporting back to the committee in 2025. Subject to further financial and equalities assessment delegated to officers in consultation with the Chair.

The amendment was seconded by Councillor Alexander. On being put to the vote the amendment was CARRIED (7 members voting in favour, 0 against with 2 abstentions)

The recommendation as amended was the put to a vote and was CARRIED unanimously.

It was APPROVED:

7. Implement an inflation-based charge only. Refer consideration of a change to linear charging to the Parking Strategy Task and Finish Group, reporting back to the committee in 2025. Subject to further financial and equalities assessment delegated to officers in consultation with the Chair.

Recommendation 8 – Delegated Authority for implementation

The recommendation was moved by Councillor Plowden and seconded by Councillor Bryher. On being put to the vote the recommendation was CARRIED unanimously.

It was APPROVED:

8. Delegates authority to the Executive Director, Growth and Regeneration to implement the approved proposals.

SUMMARY OF APPROVED RECOMMENDATIONS

The Policy Committee RESOLVED:

1. Initiated a Task and Finish Group, to be chaired by Cllr Rob Bryher, to make recommendations to the committee for a modern and holistic Parking and Kerbside Strategy.