The Policy and Engagement Officer introduced the report which included the possible options to cover the £38k shortfall to cover the income lost from the parking recommendations agreed by the Community Committee on 6 March 2024.

The Chair invited members to make comments, which included:

·           Congratulated the officers and working group for the good work they had done so far, but they still had plenty more work to do;

·           Community Committee needed to decide how the shortfall would be covered;

·           the budget had been agreed before the Community Committee recommendations did that decision make the budget unbalanced?;

·           the Policy and Resources Committee were responsible for budget decisions so it was the responsibility of this Committee to cover the shortfall;

·           the reserves should be used to cover the shortfall whilst officers worked with the Community Committee to come up with ways to cover the cost of the car parks for future years;

·           could not see how using the reserves as a back-up option was correct as this would set a precedent for all service committees to use the reserves as a ‘safety net’;

·           more information was needed around how the shortfall was going to be covered;

·           parking income was always going up and down so £38k was not an accurate figure and was just an estimate;

·           the public had some good alternatives for those car parks so officers needed to make sure they reached out to the local residents;

·           it was not proper to have camper vans parked-up on sea defences and officers needed to protect sea defences on Isle of Sheppey; and

·           could the Director of Resources clarify the position of the budget if the car parking charges in these locations were removed.

The Director of Resources responded to the point raised about the balanced budget and said that if reserves were used to cover the shortfall, then it should not affect the recently agreed budget for the next financial year. She added that the amount in reserves would be less in the next financial year.

The Director of Resources was hopeful that officers would be able to use the recommendations from the Community Committee to cover the costs of the shortfall and said that the reserves would be used as a last resort.

The Head of Environment and Leisure welcomed the work of the cross party parking policy working group and recognised that it could continue if Members wished it to. He would liaise with the Community Committee Chair on this.

Resolved:

(1)   That the Parking Policy at appendix I in the agenda pack be adopted.

(2)   Noted the £38k shortfall in income following the Decision by the Community Committee not to implement pay and display charges at the Library, Queenborough and Park Road, Queenborough, and Little Oyster in Minster, Isle of Sheppey car parks.

(3)   That officers work with members to address the £38k shortfall in revenue income in order to balance the budget for 2024-2025.

(4)   That any balance that cannot be recovered in other ways be covered by using the Council’s reserves.