Agenda item

CAR PARK CHARGING PROPOSALS

To present the results of the car parking consultation and seek the advice and feedback of the SAC&CC on the proposals for the scheme.

Minutes:

The joint SAC/CC received a report which set out findings of the parking charges survey, the proposed discounts and exemptions for certain user groups, and the next steps in the process. The report was introduced by Louise Stewart, Chief Executive (CE) of APPCT as set out in the agenda pack at pages 27-34. The following was noted in discussion of this item:

a.         In response to a question around the proposed prices for parking, the CE advised that tariffs were included as part of the consultation and this information was available on the website. The proposal consulted upon was for the first half an hour to be free and then an increasing scale dependent upon the length of time required, from £1.50 up to £8 for 4 hours plus hours.

b.         The joint meeting sought clarification as to whether APPCT had heard from the Charity Commission in relation to the proposed introduction of car parking charges the SAC/CC was advised that the Charity Commission had come back with some clarification questions but no formal response had yet been received. The CE advised that if the Board agreed to proceed, it would be anticipated that car parking charges would be in place for the beginning of the new financial year.

c.         Concerns were raised on behalf of local residents of Springfield Road and Dukes Avenue, who had been petitioning against implementing without having a CPZ in place in the surrounding roads, due to an expected adverse impact on the wider parking network. In response, APPCT acknowledged these concerns and commented that this was set out as part of the consultation. It was noted that the Palace had not seen people refusing to donate to the current donate to park scheme and/or this having an impact to date on surrounding roads.

d.         The Chair asked whether there was data available of where visitors come from. In response, the CE advised that this was collated as part of the survey but in relation to the 4m plus visits a year to the palace there was incomplete data as it was not a paid attraction and could not use data from tickets sales. 

e.         The joint meeting sought clarification around whether, following the APPCT proposals to make parking less costly for certain user groups whether it was expected that this would satisfy most user groups. In response, the CE advised that she believed the consultation would reassure user groups that they were listened to. The CE suggested that it was unlikely that everyone would be satisfied, but that was confident that user group who may have been disproportionately disadvantaged would be supported with some form of reduced tariff. 

f.          The SAC/CC commented that they hoped regular users and people with mobility issues would not be unduly penalised.  The CE reminded members that the consultation had set out that Blue Badge holders would not be charged and that the blue badge criteria had been broadened considerably in recent years. It was also pointed out that disability and ability to pay for parking were not the same thing.

g.         A member of SAC/CC set out that they remained opposed to any parking along Alexandra Palace Way. In response, the CE acknowledged these concerns and set out that one of the Board’s considerations, if approved, would be how best to manage that area – including possible removal of  parking bays on Alexandra Palace Way, as per the information provided in the consultation information.

h.         It was suggested that one of the main points that came through from the consultation was that parking charges needed to be as low as possible and that the Trust should not disadvantage any vulnerable groups.  In response, APPCT advised that whilst over 2000 responses were received, they were heavily weighted by local residents. It was important to take into account that the responses did not necessarily reflect the views of the wider group of making up the 4m visits that the Park and Palace received in a year.

 

The following feedback was put forward for the Board’s consideration on the introduction of car parking charges:

a.         The joint SAC/CC were broadly supportive of the proposals but raised some concerns around groups on low income and those who have mobility issues. It was suggested that parking charges should be kept as low as possible not to discourage particular user groups and perhaps there could be some free parking such as on Bank Holidays for lower income families who might wish to have a free day out.

b.         It was suggested that there needed to be a balanced response to this issue. There was a strong financial argument for introducing charges but there also needed to be some recognition that a significant proportion of people responding to the consultation expressed concerns with charging. It was suggested that local ward councillors needed to be engaging with the local community on this to ensure that those living in the vicinity of the park were aware of possible knock-on effects to parking in the surrounding area.

c.         It was commented that most people were used to paying for parking and that this was an unfortunate reality of the financial situation faced by APPCT and the need to protect the future of the charity.

d.         The SAC/CC were clear that any parking charges should not disadvantage vulnerable people and that some mitigation was required to protect them.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the SAC/CC noted and discussed the information in the report and provided advice and feedback to the Trustee Board on the public feedback to the car park charging proposals.

Supporting documents: