Parking Charges for Blue Badge Holders in Town Centre and Beach Car Parks

AGENDA ITEM 8

BOROUGH OF POOLE

TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP – THURSDAY 6thJANUARY 2010

REPORT OF HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

PARKING CHARGES FOR BLUE BADGE HOLDERS IN TOWN CENTRE AND BEACH CAR PARKS

PART OF THE PUBLISHED FORWARD PLAN: NO

STATUS (Strategic, Service Delivery Information)

1. PURPOSE AND POLICY CONTEXT

1.1To consider the re-introduction of charging Blue Badge holders (except those that are tax exempt) to park inall council owned off street car parks – Town Centre, Beaches, and Districts

1.2The council’s Medium Term Financial Plan aims to direct resources towards the Council’s priorities providing an appropriate financial framework over a rolling three year period. Along with Council Tax car parking charges provide a significant income towards the Council’s finances to enable it to deliver these priorities.

1.3By the end of October 2010, the car park income budget had a forecast end of year deficit of £485k of which free parking for blue badge holders is a contributory factor. This in turns limits the Council’s ability to deliver key services, including those which support the vulnerable.

1. DECISION(S) REQUIRED

It is recommended that the Portfolio Holder approves:

2.1Parking charges for blue badge holders (except those that are tax exempt) in Council owned off street surface car parks.

1. BACKGROUND/INFORMATION

3.1 Nationally, there are over 4 million blue badges in circulation. The Borough of Poole issues over 7,000 blue badges a year.The council provides 156 dedicated disabled bays for blue badge holders in council car parks, with this DDA provision being reviewed twice a year

3.2In September 2009 as part of the consideration of a three year strategy undertaken by the Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee free parking for blue badge holders was introduced in all council surface car parks. It was anticipated that this would encourage more blue badge holders to park off street rather than in roads where a parked vehicle adversely affects traffic movement.

3.3However a consequence of this is that blue badge holders are now occupying a significant number of spaces at times such that this is now having a considerable impact on car parking income, which in turn limits the Council’s ability to deliver key services. In its attempt to preserve services for the vulnerable the financial strategy has moved away from universal provision ( ie services provided regardless of income ) to a more tailored service. On the basis of helping to preserve support for the most vulnerable it is considered not justifiable to continue to give free parking to blue badge holders.

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3.4A surveyof surface car parks earlier in the summer ( shown as Appendix A ) revealed that the blue badge holders occupied 7% of spaces in Sandbanks car park and 4% in Town Centre. This equates to an estimated loss in income of £79,000 per annum (Appendix B).

3.5Free blue badge parking for up to three hours on street will remain in compliance with national legislation.

1. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

4.1.The Councils Medium Term Financial Plan required an additional £370,000 of parking income to be raised in 2010/11. However, despite two tariff rises parking income has a forecasted deficit of £485k which will needs to be addressed.

4.2.The Business case model (Appendix B) identifies the following:

a)Initial capital cost of £2,000 for legal advertisement and changing of signs - to be fundedfrom within existing parking maintenance budget.

b)Anticipated income is £79,000 per annum

1. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

5.1 A 28 day statutory period for notification of changes to the Traffic Regulation Orders is required.

6.RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

6.1Financial Risk –

a)The business model is based on forecasted income data

b)Failure to achieve associated financial targets would create a budget pressure within Transportation, requiring actions which could include cuts in other areas of the service

c)In order to meet 2011/12 budget income pressure, the scheme needs to be in place by April 2011.

7.EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

7.1The Getting About Poole (GAP) forum will be consulted about changes and an Equalities Impact assessment (EQIA) may be required as a result.

8. CONCLUSIONS

8.1 Over the last few month’s the Council has found it necessary to take a range of measures to preserve services for the vulnerable and this has included moving away from universal provision (ie services provided regardless of income) to more tailored service.

8.2 On this basis, and to help preserve support for the most vulnerable, it is no longer affordable to give free parking to blue badge holders

Report Author Jason Benjamin

Contact officer: Jason Benjamin (Tel: 01202 262150)

Background Papers

Appendix A Blue Badge survey result of Sandbanks and Chapel Lane car parks

Appendix B Business case – Forecasted income lost from not charging Blue Badge holders 2010/11

Appendix C List of town centre and beach car parks

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APPENDIX A

Snapshot survey of Blue Badge users (excluding tax exempt holders) in Sandbanks and Chapel Lane car parks

APPENDIX B

BUSINESS CASE - FORECASTED INCOME LOST FROM NOT CHARGING BLUE BADGE HOLDERS 2010/11

Source Parking Efficiency Review Programme Report November 2010

APPENDIX C

List of Beach and Town centre car parks