The Leader of The Labour and Cooperative group on Brighton and Hove city council, Gill Mitchell has today called on the Green administration to undertake a review of parking fees in the city and to bring back the half hour parking tariff. (see letter below)

Cllr Gill Mitchell said:

“I am calling on the Green Council to urgently undertake their promised six month review of the substantially increased parking fees and to re-introduce the half-hour tariff. This would benefit residents who would be able to do a quick bit of shopping or collect a child from school as well as helping the city’s economy.”

Letter to CEO Requesting review of parking tariffs in the city.

I would request that this letter is placed on the agenda of the Transport Committee meeting for 2^nd October.

When the new parking tariffs and higher charges were introduced in April this year we were promised by the Green Administration that there would be a review after 6 months of their operation.  The current review of parking policy does not cover parking charges.  I would like to request that a review of parking tariffs is urgently undertaken for the following reasons;

The rationale for the introduction of the new tariff boundaries was that this would be an easier system for the public to understand and for the council to administer.  However, it has become clear that in practice the controlled parking zones do not follow the ‘market’, there needs to be greater degree of sophistication in the system with the different needs of residents and businesses being better catered for.

While the new tariffs may work for the administrators, those having to pay the inflated amounts do not see this as fair.  For example Area Y at 7 Dials is predominantly a residential area but people living there are being charged the city centre business and trading rate.

The council has already reported a significant drop-off in parking income with this budget continuing to be rated as ‘corporate critical’ and unless changes are made this situation will continue.  There is anecdotal evidence that people who used to pay for 2 hour’s parking are now increasingly just paying for 1 hour and the removal of the half-hour tariff that allowed for a quick bit of shopping at local shops or for dropping off and collecting children from school, has angered the public and damaged local shopping areas.

I would specifically request that the half-hour tariff is re-introduced as this  would again cater for this differential ‘market’ for residents.  Given that the council is now steadily losing income from these ill thought through changes it may very well be the case that the reintroduction of the half-hour tariff would stabilise the situation. I would also request that this review should start immediately and includes the information that has been gathered during the Summer by seafront traders, specifically in the Madeira Drive area, and the Tourism Alliance via their local questionnaires without waiting for a Winter season comparison as has been suggested.

Yours sincerely,
Councillor Gill Mitchell
Leader of the Labour and Co-operative Group