The question on whether car parking and associated charges is a business or service is one that has failed to be answered since the formation of Cornwall Council. This is despite numerous requests to senior officers and the CEO for it to be answered. I am pleased to say, in what I believe is a break-though, the panel has now been tasked (the panel did not have the remit to just do the work without being tasked) to investigate that question, and if the panel could go someway to answer it

I think everyone will agree, the high-street has changed, and will continue to change. The change is not just down to the economic climate either. The panel was told some startling figures on the real pressures facing the high-street. This information sourced via the DGLG and the Portas report showed 35-43% of all national sales are carried out using a supermarket. The Internet currently counts for 10% of national sales, but it is set to rise to 35% in 2020. So it is clear the pressures on the high-street will only get worse. I believe town centre needs to be more than retail if it has any chance of survival.

From this work a report has been completed looking into the question. The report is taken from two view points; those of parking services, and also from the view of a town centre expert. As you would imagine, the two sides have different views, but I am pleased to say some common ground. The report can be found HERE. And by reading it, it will give a clearer understanding of the panel’s response, and its recommendations to the Portfolio Holder.

So what did the panel make of the report, and what recommendations has it made to the Portfolio Holder? The panel made six recommendations as follows:

• The Panel does not accept the principle described in the report that because town centres support private businesses then car parks should operate similarly, but recognises that centres also fulfil and essential social function encouraging social interaction, mobility, exercise and general well-being and that they serve to counter the increasing and general well-being and that they serve to counter the increasing trend to an isolated mode of living

• The Panel notes and entirely concurs with the Cabinet decision not to increase tariffs in line with inflation in recognition of its consideration given to the importance of town centre vitality in Cornwall. The Panel considers this is an essential financial model to be retained for the foreseeable future

• The Panel considers that is in principle wrong to separate the car parking service from the holistic function of Cornwall Council which is a service to maintain and enhance the well-being of its residents and businesses. Accordingly, the panel believes that it is inappropriate to designate all the larger car parks on purely business principles, but does consider that destination car parks may be considered in that way

• The Panel believes that, unless a compelling individual case can be made, town centre car parks should not be defined or operated as businesses but considered an adjunct to the vitality and viability of the adjoining town centre and that parking charges should be set accordingly

• Future consideration to be given whether car parking revenue should not be target led

The panel has also asked for a further report taking into consideration the five recommendations be prepared to allow future consideration of the issue of car parks as ‘services’ or ‘businesses’.

Now I know this report, or the recommendations that have been made, is not the magic wand to solve car parking issues, or save the town centres, but it is an important start, which should have been answered years ago.

You might have to pinch yourself, but something strange happened at Cornwall Council’s Cabinet meeting today. After a lengthy debate, the majority of Cabinet Councillors voted and supported the Parking Panel’s recommendations to freeze car parking charges for 2013/14. Just to repeat in case you might have misread, freeze car parking charges.

This will no doubt be welcomed by the public and traders. It is the first time in the authorities history, that car parking charges have been frozen. Credit should be given to those Cabinet members who took the brave and bold decision to go against the recommendations of an 3.2% increase across the board and go for the zero increase. However, not all Cabinet members voted in favour, as four voted for the increase.

The Parking Panel has long argued that just adding a figure on to a budget predictions is not the most sensible way to go in raising revenue. As that budget target has yet to have been reached, and is predicted for a shortfall of £1.6m for the year 2012/13. This freeze will allow a better picture of how car parking is working (or not working) in areas. This has been hard to do before, as year each year a percentage has been added, which has made it difficult to monitor how well the service is functioning.

I also welcome Bert Biscoe, the Portfolio Holder which car parking comes under, has tasked the panel answer the question of is car parking revenue a business or service. The panel has wanted to get to grips with this question, but has been thwarted until now.

So congratulations to the Cabinet for approving a zero rise in car parking charges for next year.

A campaign run by Cornwall and Devon Media Group, which publishes the papers West Briton, Cornish Guardian and Cornishman wants to help promote town centres by encouraging people to use them. This initiative is to be welcomed and I hope it will really encourage more people to use the town centres. Cornwall Council is supporting this campaign by allowing ‘free’ car parking in some of its car parks on the 29th February.

The way the free parking works is you will have to buy one of this week (23rd) papers I mentioned before. Inside those papers are a voucher which you will have to display in your car on the 29th February to receive free parking. It also only covers certain car parks (All Helston and Porthleven car parks are included). There is however a long list of excluded car parks. My advice is to check before you park and leave your car, as you will more than likely receive a parking penalty if you parked without a voucher, in a commercial vehicle, or in an excluded car park.

I have two problems with the Cornwall Council side of this offer.

The first one is why Cornwall Council is giving preferential treatment to one group of commercial papers. It would have been far better to offer this deal to all the local papers in Cornwall. These other papers have at one time or another have run campaigns to help town centres. Furthermore this could be seen as Cornwall Council putting other papers at a commercial disadvantage, and helping to increase the profits of one company over another. Is this right for a council to be doing this? I feel a council when dealing with any news organisation (and business) should be equally fair to all.

The second one I have is many car parks are excluded. This could lead to confusion and misunderstanding. Confusion and/or misunderstanding might lead to a parking fine, which will ruin anyone’s day, especially if they thought it was free! After all, the council is not technically losing any revenue because it is a leap year day. Maybe it would have been far simpler to just say it is free in all car parks for one day? Sometimes I think the council struggles with the concept of keeping it simple.

I do believe any campaign that encourages people to use a town centre is good; if Cornwall Council is involved it should be treating everyone equally. If the other papers turned down the offer to take part then that is fine. However, other papers where not asked at first which is a mistake (though some other papers are now printing vouchers).

Maybe the only way any campaign will work is everyone working together. In this case important parties have been left out. I hope these left out parties do not take it personally……

At yesterday’s Parking Policy Advisory Panel there were a whole host of recommendations for the panel to approve before these decisions are presented to Cabinet. The report to the panel has a lot of information contained within it, especially for the tariffs. Before the meeting took place I accepted on behalf of Cornwall Council two Petitions. These were from St. Just and Penzance.

The St. Just Petition was in reference to the proposals from Penwith’s Community Network (CN) to charge £1 per day in Pendeen and St. Just. The other Petition was from Penzance who wanted to be treated the same as Camborne and Redruth charging Tariffs.

The good news for St. Just is the recommendation to charge for car parking will be deferred until the negotiations between Cornwall Council and St. Just Town Council have ended with either the town council taking over the running and costs of the two cars parks. If they are not transferred, then there will be a question on their future of remaining free.

For Penzance’s Petition they wanted to be treated the same as Camborne and Redruth, and they wanted to have the 50p for the first hour in their car parks. This request is hard to achieve because of the amount of revenue set by Cornwall Council’s Cabinet for Penzance’s car parks. The parking panel has no say in the amount set. However, the new tariffs approved yesterday are a hugely step in the right direction and will help Penzance.

For Camborne and Redruth the CN declined to meet me and my team to discuss tariffs. Yes, I could not understand why, so I sent the CN an email asking them to reconsider. Sadly, they did not change their minds, so we did not meet them.

In Truro, the basic tariff charges remain the same, but do have one big change. The charging period for Truro will be from 9am till 4pm. After this time their will be a flat rate of about £1. This was warmly welcomed by the Mayor of Truro as a result. The aim of this was to help with the economy in the early evening and night.

The real gem in the recommendations is the Low Paid Workers Permit. This will be £300 per year. As I have said before this works out as £5.70 per week, and will allow the holder to park for 365 days with no additional costs. Because Cornwall Council has to make sure only those who are entitled to them can have them, the council has to have some sort of check.

The best way to do this is with the minimum of administrative costs, and to keep the system simple you have to be in receipt of Working Tax Credits. Most low paid workers will get this is they have children, are disabled, or are over 25 (Government rules). There is the possibility of a small group of low paid workers who do not qualify for Working Tax Credits. The parking team is working on something that would include this group. It is hoped the solution can be found before the new charges are brought in 2012.

The other types of season tickets will remain at 100 days x daily charge. These permits can be used in four named car parks and will allow unlimited use for a year. Reserved spaces will remain at the current price.

For my local area Porthleven and Helston the basic changes to the existing tariffs are:

• Up to 2 hours car parking £1
• Porthleven Kitto’s Field £1 all day in the winter (31 Oct-14 March)
• Castle Green car park £1.50 all day