Agenda item

Report of the Group Director of Services

The Group Director of Services submitted a report (previously circulated) to provide an update to Members on the town centre car parking offer and sought a budget variation and funding release.

The submitted report outlined that parking offers had been in place in various pay and display locations to support the town centre since June 2018, and that since January 2021 the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) had provided the funding to support parking offers across the Tees Valley for a two-year period. It was noted that in November 2022, Cabinet had agreed to fund an extension of the parking offer from January 2023 until the end of March 2023. 

The submitted report stated that the sustainability of the town centre was an immediate priority, and that there was a strong desire that the Council continue to support and encourage use of the town centre. It was reported that on 10 January 2023, Cabinet had agreed a further extension of the parking offer for a further three months, from 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2023, subject to Council varying the budget and releasing the funding as the further extension of the parking offer exceeded Cabinet’s delegated authority to vary the budget.

RESOLVED – That the variation to the budget be approved, and that £387k be released to enable the current parking offer to be extended a further 3 months, from 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2023, and that parking charges be reintroduced on 1 July 2023.

REASON – To support the ongoing recovery of the town centre.