The Cabinet Member for Community introduced the report which set-out how the Covid-19 Pandemic had impacted on town centres and the downturn in income from the pay and display car parking machines. 

The Chairman drew attention to the questions outlined in the report and welcomed comments from Members.

A Member asked whether blue badge holders using electric vehicles (EVs) were able to park for free or whether they received free electric?  The Head of Environment and Leisure advised that the current Council Fees and Charges for 2021-2022 was a combined parking and electricity charge which meant that the EV user would get a subsidised lower charge for parking.  The Council proposed to make that a far simpler process within fees and charges and that EV usage was a growth area.  The Head of Environment and Leisure advised that currently disabled users paid the same rate as the able bodied when using an EV space.

Members considered the report and comments made included:

·         Considered that the Pay and Display replacement needed to be bottomed-out before it was considered who got charged;

·         liked the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system they had in Canterbury and considered it was easier to use;

·         simple payment was the way forward;

·         the Council should consider providing disabled only car parks that were closer to town centres;

·         should explore whether the Forum car park should be used as disabled parking only and able bodied use the multi-storey car park?;

·         did not think that the Council should look at parking just as a way to make money;

·         the Council should not subsidise disabled drivers using EV charging points in council car parks;

·         did not favour the ANPR system;

·         essential that contactless was offered as a payment option on all pay and display machines; and

·         supported the provision of blue badge car parks only and referred to an underused car park in Sheerness which was always empty which could be considered for this use;

·         the ANPR system did not work as well for visitors to the Borough especially those with a blue badge;

·         would advocate that disabled EV drivers pay via the machines and the Council collected electricity charges via the App per kilo watt hour;

·         needed to encourage people to drive EVs so needed competitive electricity charging points;

·         blue badge holders should have free car parking;

·         EV charging points should be contactless;

·         the Council could have an announced policy that EV charging would be charged at cost.  This would be fair and encourage people to buy EVs and would be no detriment to council tax payers;

·         bulk buying of electricity by Local Authorities was not necessarily the cheapest option; and

·         how much could SBC do to meet the private industry innovations in respect of EV charging to ensure efficient and cost effective EV charging points in Swale?

In response to comments about the ANPR system, the Cabinet Member for Community explained the downside of that system.  He stated that it resulted in a loss of parking spaces and more expense, and he explained that due to Government legislation Local Authorities could not operate the ANPR systems without barriers like private companies could.

A Member asked whether there was a hybrid solar and electric pay and display machine available rather than using two separate machines?  The Head of Environment and Leisure explained that it would be a combination,but in cases where the lack of light was an issue the electric power would be used as a back-up.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Property considered there were not many EV charging points in Swale and considered it important to ensure high speed charges were available for both residents and visitors to the Borough.

The Cabinet Member for Community thanked Members for their comments.

In response to questions and points made the Head of Environment and Leisure clarified that income from Pay and Display parking was not ring-fenced and went into supporting Council services.  He explained that all Pay and Display machines would have the contactless, cash and via the app payment options.  Officers were currently working on an EV Strategy for Swale, and the current EV usage figures showed that Swale currently had ample EV charging points.