Issue - meetings

Councillor Keogh – Cabinet Member for Environment & Transport, Mel Creighton -Executive Director for Enabling Services, James Marshall - Director of Customer & Employee Experience and Richard Alderson – Service Manager, Parking & Itchen Bridge were in attendance and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

Councillor Keogh provided an introduction and overview in relation to the decision taken by Cabinet on 28 January 2025 to approve the implementation of a Change in Parking Tariffs and Charging Hours in Suburban Car Parks.

The Committee noted the overview and discussed the following elements, referenced in the Call-In notice, in further detail:

·   The economic and financial impact on the district centres and the businesses within them has not been calculated and thus represents a significant risk to the vitality of these districts and the viability of businesses

The Committee explored with the Cabinet Member the turnover of parking spaces within district centres, the viability of district centres and engagement with local businesses, the expected impact of the decision on footfall, local examples where parking charges had been introduced, and the measures that will be utilised to assess the impact of the proposals.

Councillor Keogh set out the metrics that will be used to monitor the impact of the parking charges, including car park utilisation, utilisation periods, car parking availability, district centre footfall and modal shift measures, and the planned six-month post implementation review. Councillor Keogh also set out the planned improvements for district centres in Southampton.

·   The consultation on these measures demonstrated overwhelming public opposition, but this has been ignored.

Given the scale of the opposition to the proposals the Committee questioned the purpose of consulting residents if the results do not impact the Executive’s decision, and the potential damage this is doing to the reputation of the Council.

Councillor Keogh stated that the purpose of the consultation was to obtain feedback, capture ideas, and identify specific issues and suggestions. Amendments have been made to the proposals as a result of consultation feedback.  These include changes to the charging hours and plans for park and stride permits.

Councillor Keogh also confirmed that ongoing space provision and arrangements for blue badge holders will remain in place.

The Committee then moved to a formal vote.

RESOLVED that

i)  To advise the Decision Maker that the Scrutiny Committee does not recommend that the decision be reconsidered and that it can therefore be implemented without delay,

ii)  The reduction in usage applied to income projections for 2025/25 is provided to the Committee,

iii)  The six-month review on whether the parking tariff and charging periods should be further amended is considered by the Committee when it is available,

iv)  The cost to the City Council of processing a single payment card transaction is provided to the Committee,

v)  To offset the potential impact of the proposed car parking charges, the Executive support investment in Southampton’s district centres to enhance their vitality and viability.