Parking Charges Take Another Step Closer

31st January 2020

On 6th February 2020 the newly formed Economy and Infrastructure Committee of Highland Council will consider the way forward and approach to bring in parking charges in a number of areas including Wick and East Caithness.

Item 7 on the agenda for the meeting is Off-Street Car Parking Policy - Update and sets out the way for ward for information and consultations.

The latest paper refers back to decisions in October 2019

A special meeting of the Environment, Development & Infrastructure Committee met on 24/10/19 to review and consider the content and recommendations of the Off-Street Car

Parking Policy Review. Members agreed the following recommendations:

• The new policy for off-street car parking set out in the Committee Report -

https://www.highland.gov.uk/download/meetings/id/75941/item_3off-street_car_parking_policy_review

• A two-phase roll-out to the introduction of the new policy;

• A 50%/50% service/local share of surplus income;

• Noted the suggestion that additional local income should be focused on spending on roads infrastructure.

In addition a set of web pages has been set up to which all information etc will be added as the process unfolds -

http://www.highland.gov.uk/carparkconversation

The paper for discussion refers back to other earlier papers -

The Council agreed in June 2018 to the recommendations of a Redesign Review of Car Parking, available at:

www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/file/19586/car_parking_review _report

The recommendations of this Redesign Review were then incorporated into the Highland Council Parking Policy and Guidance 2018 to 2023, available at:

www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/file/19425/the_highland_council_parking_policy_2018_to_2023

There is still some way to go and local councillors will need to give the go ahead in each area.