A report informing the Sub-Committee of the proposal to change the “off street” car parking orders as detailed in Appendix 1 and 2, which has come about as a result of a review of the tariffs.

The Executive Director for Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on a proposal to change the ‘off-street’ car parking orders which had come about as a result of a review of the tariffs.  A copy of the proposed car park Tariff Charges 2019 was attached to the report at Appendix 1, details of Season Tickets 2019 were attached at Appendix 2 and a comparison of car park charges 2019 was attached at Appendix 3.

The report explained that the car park tariffs had last been reviewed in June 2018 with changes proposed to the tariffs in Broad Street, Queens Road, Cattle Market, Hills Meadow and King’s Meadow car parks, plus season tickets.  The tariffs reflected the different types of off-street parking that was available, for example, the local centre shoppers’ car parks were charged differently to town centre car parking.  On 4 October 2018 the management contract with NCP had been terminated, the car parks had been brought back in-house, and none of the proposed tariff changes that had been agreed at the 13 June 2018 meeting (Minute 7 refers) had been implemented.  A further review of the tariffs had since been carried out.

The review of the car park tariffs had taken into account who the main customer segments were (for example, retail or commuter), the appropriate products available, optimal pricing strategies and reviewed financial models, to understand the risks and opportunities.  The full listing of proposed car park charges was set out in Appendices 1 and 2 and, subject to the changes being agreed, and the associated Traffic Regulation Order being implemented, it was planned to introduce them from August/September 2019, provided there were no objections to the order. 

The report stated that town centre car parks currently had spare capacity during the day, and overnight, and for this reason tariffs were very competitive.  Within the town centre area, the Oracle, Q Parks, NCP and APCOA car parks were all run by commercial operators who set their tariffs on a ‘supply and demand’ basis.  This tariff review had considered the competitive nature of parking within Reading and its objective was to offer good value for money in this competitive market.  Rather than encourage increased car use, the plan was to increase the Council’s share of the market, and the tariff review also set the scene for setting an environmental tariff; for example, electric vehicles would pay a lower tariff and higher polluting vehicles would pay a higher tariff.  Longer term opportunities included running car shares for an increasing residential population in the town centre alongside other initiatives like bike share hubs.

The report set out the current and proposed tariffs for each of the car parks and explained that, as well as the existing Cattle Market Pay and Display Car Park, a new Pay on Foot Cattle Market car park area would be constructed, to be re-branded as Station West once completed, as the Cattle Market was a popular car park for commuters using Reading Railway Station.

Resolved –

(1)     That the changes to the car park tariffs as set out in Appendices 1 and 2 be agreed;

(2)     That the statutory requirements for changes to the Borough of Reading (Civil Enforcement Area) (Off Street Parking Places) Order 2019 be agreed and the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to advertise the proposals, including the renaming of the rear Cattle Market car park to Station West, within the Traffic Regulation Order process.