Category Archives: Car park charges

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

26 Nov 2019

Posted under

Accountability, Asset sweating, Ben Ingham, Car park charges, Council tax, EDDC, TiggerTories

EDDC had record income from parking at time Leader wanted to increase charges

Motorists all over East Devon are paying for refuse collection, council tax payers throughout East Devon will pay extra if there is no hotel in Exmouth … where will it end?

“The 2018/19 figures from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government show a record return for the council since comparable records began in 2008/9.

A consultation has been carried out, by the council, on plans to raise hourly parking charges from £1 to £1.20. The leader of the council, Ben Ingham, has said any increases will not come into force until 2021.

A spokesman for East Devon District Council said: “East Devon District Council owns 57 car parks that currently contribute around £2.4million which is used to provide a range of essential council services including, for example, our recycling and refuse collection contract. …”

https://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/record-high-parking-profits-for-district-council-1-6395226

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

28 Oct 2019

Posted under

Accountability, Ben Ingham, Car park charges, East Devon economy, Economy, EDDC, High Street decline, Local Government Finance, Scrutiny, Transparency

More flack for EDDC Leader Ingram on spending and transparency

Not looking good … now being attacked for  wanting to employ consultants to tell him what town centre problems are:

“East Devon District Council ‘lacks good detailed intelligence about its towns and their economic wellbeing’.

Cllr Ben Ingham, leader of the council, admitted: “This is not a good state of affairs,” when questioned at Wednesday night’s full council meeting.

It came after Cllr Mike Allen asked questions over the decision of the portfolio holder for economy, Cllr Kevin Blakey, to commission a major study into town centres.

Cllr Allen asked for an indication of the cost proposed and in the interests of proper transparency, for the Consultancy brief envisaged be put to the next Overview Committee for discussion before any expenditure is committed. …”

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/east-devon-lacks-good-intelligence-3474769

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

24 Oct 2019

Posted under

Accountability, Car park charges, EDDC, Independent Councillors

Independent councillor gets policy on car parking charges changed

“A motion put forward by councillor Paul Millar, to add car parking strategy to the list of policy areas which need the approval of full council, was approved on Wednesday (October 23).

Previously, final decisions on parking were made by the cabinet, which is made up of councillors from the ruling party.

As a result of Cllr Millar’s motion, cabinet can make recommendations to full council which will have the final say.

In its last meeting, cabinet decided to launch a consultation process on proposals to increase the hourly rate in East Devon car parks from £1 to £1.20.

The decision has been called in by the district council’s scrutiny committee which was due to hold an extraordinary meeting on Thursday (October 24).

A task and finish forum has also been set up to look at the issue.”

https://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/east-devon-full-council-given-car-parking-strategy-decision-1-6339334

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

15 Oct 2019

Posted under

Accountability, Car park charges, EDDC, Scrutiny

Comments

1 Comment

Increased Parking Charges – Extraordinary Scrutiny Meeting Thursday, October 24, from 6pm, at Blackdown House

“Last month, East Devon District Council’s cabinet agreed to launch a consultation process on increasing the hourly tariff in nine car parks from £1 to £1.20.

If approved, the following car parks would be affected: Lace Walk (Honiton), West Street (Axminster), Orchard (Seaton), Central (Beer), Ham East, Ham West, Roxburgh and Mill Street (Sidmouth), Rolle Mews (Budleigh Salterton), London Inn, Imperial Road and Queen’s Drive (Exmouth).

The district council says the proposals would allow ‘more efficient management’ of the car parks and encourage motorists to use the less popular facilities.

The decision has been called into scrutiny by councillor Mike Howe.

Scrutiny has the right to request any decision made by the cabinet or a portfolio holder be discussed by them, with a view to make recommendations, prior it being implemented.

The scrutiny meeting will take place on Thursday, October 24, from 6pm, at Blackdown House, in Honiton.”

https://www.exmouthjournal.co.uk/news/extraordinary-scrutiny-meeting-called-to-discuss-parking-1-6323425

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

10 Oct 2019

Posted under

Accountability, Car park charges, East Devon Alliance, EDDC, Independent Councillors, Lib Dem (local)

EDDC resigned/sacked councillor attempts to change constitution over parking price rises

Nice to see the non-Independent Group councillors of different parties and no party flexing their collective muscle!

“Councillor Paul Millar has tabled a motion for the next full council meeting, calling for car park strategy to be added to the list of 12 areas of policy the full council has the final say over – taking decisions out of the cabinet’s hands.

The cabinet, made up of nine councillors from the ruling Independent Group, has agreed to put parking charge changes out to a public consultation.

The proposals include raising the hourly rate in some East Devon car parks from £1 to £1.20 and introducing pay-and-display to previously free car parks.

According to the council’s constitution, cabinet can make decisions on parking changes without consulting full council.

Cllr Millar’s motion, which has been ratified by the chief executive, would force cabinet to make a recommendation to full council instead.

In an email seen by this title, Cllr Millar writes: “I believe this amendment is a vital safeguard to ensure the leader does not rush ahead with a consultation on a policy the vast majority of members do not support.

“It would be a waste exercise, and a waste of taxpayers’ money.

“I believe we must ensure that democracy is served.”

In response, East Devon leader Ben Ingham said: “With most notice of motions, unless I have put them forward or supported submission, I like to hear the debate in full before deciding.

“In the past, I have found keeping a motion simple is best.

“We shall see.”

Following the cabinet’s decision to launch a consultation, the proposals were called in by EDDC’s scrutiny committee which decided to set up a forum to consider car parking tariffs in East Devon.

Cllr Millar, an Independent councillor who is no longer part of the ruling Independent Group, is concerned that cabinet will press ahead with the consultation before the parking forum reports back with its findings.

The motion to change the constitution, set to be discussed at the full council meeting on Wednesday, October 23, has received cross party support having been seconded by Liberal Democrat Eileen Wragg.

Two other Lib Dem councillors and one Conservative have backed the motion.

Eight of the Independent East Devon Alliance councillors, including leader Paul Arnott, are listed as supporters.”

https://www.midweekherald.co.uk/news/east-devon-constitution-amendment-tabled-1-6314614

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

5 Oct 2019

Posted under

Accountability, Ben Ingham, Car park charges, EDDC, High Street decline

EDDC Leader on car park charges … basically now a complete muddle

Leader Ben Ingham’s statement – a masterclass on how to make a bad decision worse – a rushed, piecemeal temporary fix that suits no-one and has no clear outcome.

“East Devon Scrutiny committee to set up a Task and Finish Forum to consider the ongoing future of the council’s car parks

At a meeting of East Devon District Council’s Cabinet on Wednesday 2 October, councillors discussed a report detailing proposed changes to car parking charges in East Devon and resolved to take the following steps:

That statutory advertisement and consultation procedures are actioned with a view to changing car park charges from £1 to £1.20 per hour in high demand car parks (including the London Inn, Imperial Road and Queens Drive car parks in Exmouth).

The 20p per hour increase for the high demand car parks is a rounded down inflation based increase from 2010.

To implement a 12 month trial of free coach parking in Seaton Jurassic coach park and a promotional tariff of £2 all day parking in the Canaan Way and Brook Street car parks in Ottery St. Mary

The Cabinet decision was subsequently debated at a meeting on Thursday 3 October by the council’s Scrutiny committee, which has resolved to set up a Task and Finish Forum (TAFF).

This will consider a range of matters with regard to the ongoing and future management and operation of the Council’s car parks.

There is a possibility that the Cabinet decision will also be called-in to the Scrutiny Committee but we will not know this until later next week.”

https://exmouth.nub.news/n/leader-of-east-devon-district-council-issues-statement-regarding-car-parking-tariffs