Council votes to reform how residents and users pay for car parks

A proposal to reform the way public car parking is paid for has been approved by Breckland Council's Cabinet at their 15 July 2024 meeting. 

The Council, which owns 30 car parks across the district, currently covers the significant maintenance and operating costs through existing budgets, meaning that everyone in the district - regardless of whether they use the facilities - pays for this service.  However, like most councils across the country, Breckland is facing budget pressures which are forcing it to take a fresh look at its services and how they are funded. 

Introducing parking tariffs similar to those already charged in most other Norfolk market towns - is one of the key recommendations from an independent report and feasibility study commissioned by the Council to help it consider alternative management options.  The report's key findings were that the Council's car parks represented a significant financial cost - around £450k per year - to its budgets without delivering an effective service, suggesting instead that car parking costs should be funded by those who benefit directly from using them.   

The new system will see charges similar to, or more affordable than, comparable market towns. Each market town will have one car park offering the first hour's parking for free, with tariffs between 50p and £1 for the first chargeable hour across the district.  Not only will this help cover the running costs of providing car parking facilities across the district, it would also encourage a more regular turnover of parking spaces, making it easier for everyone to park.    And with more available spaces, and greater footfall, the Council believes this not only will create more potential trade for local businesses, but also protect budget allocations for more vulnerable residents at the same time. 

Following  approval at Monday's Cabinet meeting, a period of public consultation will  follow in the Autumn, giving members of the public the opportunity to feed back on the proposals for each market town. 

Cllr Paul Hewett, Breckland Council's Executive Member for Property, Projects, and Procurement commented: "This was not an easy decision for my Cabinet Colleagues and I to make, but, like most councils, we are facing budget pressures which are forcing us to take a fresh look at our services and how they are funded. In the case of our car parks, introducing a paid parking system - funded by those who benefit most from it - is the fairest, and most affordable way to do this.  

"From the outset we have worked to ensure that this proposal is transparent and that the evidence this proposal is based upon is easily available.  

"With that in mind, on Thursday last week we proactively brought this proposal to our Overview and Scrutiny Commission where members from across the political spectrum were able to scrutinise the proposal and hear more from our expert consultants on their study and recommendations.  

"This was a really constructive session and provided an opportunity for more information to be shared about the cost-neutral nature of the model; why we are moving forward with this approach now; alternative options that have been explored; and what we intend to do to minimise any potential impact on residents, businesses, shoppers, visitors and town centre workers.  

"From comments already received by me and my colleagues, it is evident that there is quite a lot of misinformation being communicated, either in error, or deliberately. This is an important issue for our residents, businesses and taxpayers, with implications that affect everyone now and in the future.   

"Whether a resident, a business, or a community leader, we owe it to those who we represent to communicate all information, whatever our personal views, to ensure that we are all aware of the implications of this decision as we move towards a period of public consultation.  As part of this we have already agreed to bring details of the consultation to our next Overview and Scrutiny meeting in September, with the consultation scheduled to launch in October."  

If you would like to read the report that was presented to Breckland's Cabinet, please use the link below. 

View Car Parking Strategy Report (opens new window)

We understand that you also may have some questions on this new approach.  We have prepared some frequently asked questions to help provide some clarity.  Please check back regularly as these will evolve and develop as we move forward.

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