21 February 2008
Dear South Kesteven District Councillor
STAMFORD PAY PARKING
Our Chamber makes you an offer which you cannot refuse.
We propose that at your Full Council meeting on Monday 3rd March, when the 2008/2009 Budget is to be debated, you should speak and vote to make Stamford pay car parking charges be priced to the market. This will result in over 4,600 additional wallets coming into our town every week, improving the vitality and viability of our town centre. Whilst our Chamber has no objective to maximise car parking income, the effect of pricing to the market automatically achieves this, so will benefit SKDC's Council Tax Payers to the tune of at least £160,000 annually from Stamford alone.
Simple, is it not? Everyone is a winner!
Our Chamber is the democratically organised representative body for those involved in Stamford's trade and commerce. We have about 100 members, from the largest to the smallest employer.
We have been in dispute with SKDC since 2002 when SKDC abandoned the principles for Stamford market priced pay parking charges, which had been created and agreed by a joint Working Group and implemented in Stamford in August 1999, and which ran very successfully for 33 months to May 2002. SKDC has the evidence of this success.
At the risk of boring you, attached is a one page short summary of the history. It is not a pretty picture. By overpricing most pay parking spaces which could and should have been sold if priced to the market, since June 2002 these spaces have stood empty Monday to Thursday particularly in Cattlemarket car park. These empty spaces deny Stamford traders over 4,600 wallets weekly because of the absence of visitors. At the same time, other parking spaces are sold too cheaply, particularly on Friday and Saturday, causing traffic congestion as a result of cars travelling from one car park to another in search of a space. The principles abandoned in 2002 were:-
1. Price car parking spaces at each car parking to the market, so that the car parks are well filled, whilst ensuring that there is always an empty space at each car park.
2. To achieve 1. above, have different pay parking charges Monday to Thursday (off peak days thus cheaper parking) compared with Friday and Saturday (peak days so higher prices).
3. Thus aid town Centre traffic management, with less re-circulating traffic looking for empty parking spaces, and improved pedestrian safety.
A copy of SKDC's own schedule of market priced pay parking charges effective 31st August 1999 is attached, coloured fawn. This policy proved to be very successful in satisfying the public that charges were fair, in bringing more customers with full wallets into our town, and in maximising SKDC's income. This is evidenced by the attached December 1999 Usage Graphs, showing high usage of each pay car park over the six days per week which are charged, Sunday being free. In particular, good Mondays to Thursdays (off-peak) usage highlights benefits to trade and income of market related charges. Since June 2002 and currently, Stamford Mondays to Thursdays are dire for trade; the Cattlemarket car park has been virtually empty on these days.
We have repeatedly raised these issues prior to the bi-annually review from when the market pricing policy was replaced with the 2002 'cost accountant policy' which promised £220,000 extra income but delivered only £125,00. Last time, we wrote to each Cabinet member on 4th November 2005 (attached) to absolutely no effect. We then brought the matter to the attention of Economic Development & Scrutiny Panel on 22nd November 2005, when they considered a Call-in of the issue. This was a complete waste of our time. The Committee members just obeyed the party whip. The Minutes are attached, they completely missed the two key points we repeatedly made that over 4,600 wallets denied every week to traders and more than £160,000 being lost annually to Council Tax Payers. Having made full use of the democratic system, we were frustrated that no logical debate had occurred.
Preparatory to SKDC's 2007/08 review of charges, we presented our point of view to a well attended meeting of Stamford Local Forum on 22nd November 2006. The relevant pages of the Minutes are attached, as is a copy of the colour handout which we circulated. At the next Stamford Forum, a copy of the handout was personally given to SKDC's Chief Executive.
This was all to no avail, as the Minutes of the Cabinet held on 3rd December 2007 show under Item CO55 Fees & Charges that the Cabinet wished to 'consult' on either a flat 10p or 20p on the existing pay parking charges.
Amazingly, this Stamford 'consultation' took place at the 31st January meeting of Stamford Local Forum with no prior warning whatsoever. It was not billed as a consultation on the Agenda papers or on the SKDC website. The Forum meeting started at 7pm. It was after 8.30 by the time the views of the meeting were invited, by which time many had already gone home. Our Chamber had the strong support of the Forum for its proposals on pay parking charges, and the proposals of SKDC were not favoured.
At the Full Council meeting of Stamford Town Council on 19th February 2008, the Town Council voted very heavily in favour of the proposals from our Chamber for market related pay parking charges.
As is normal in our Chamber, our Committee have ensured that the actions which they propose to take have the support of our Chamber's members. There has been strong membership voting in favour of our proposals, in favour of our writing to each SKDC member, and in favour of our Committee's intention to take a strong line with SKDC.
Furthermore, we have offered to guarantee (by underwriting any losses or costs) that SKDC's pay parking income from Stamford is maintained at budgeted 2008/09 levels. This income is budgeted to produce a surplus of £499,000 from Stamford alone. Our guarantee carries the proviso that SKDC and ourselves share the additional income 50/50.
Can you refuse this offer? At SKDC Full Council on 3rd March, please speak and vote that Stamford pay car parking charges are priced to the market, in full consultation with our Chamber. Stamfordians and all your Council Tax payers will thank you.
Yours sincerely
TIM LEE
President |
