Car Park Charges – A Labour Apology!

Tonight at Reading Borough Council’s Cabinet meeting the proposal to massively increase some car park charges was debated as a result of the “Call in” that I and my Conservative colleagues exercised. I was expecting that the Labour Cabinet would merely rubber stamp the proposal that they had attempted to smuggle through the “Decision Book” system last week.

I was surprised when I saw the papers for the Cabinet meeting that stated that the Council had decided to withdraw the Decision Book report of 12 January. They also provided that “the Head of Transport consult on the NCP proposals for car park changes with the Lead Councillor and other Group Transport Spokespeople……before exercising her delegation to advertise the changes.” The report recognises “the need to improve internal procedures” and promises that in future any such decision will go through a proper consultation process.

When Labour Lead Cllr Tony Page spoke at Cabinet he apologised for the lack of proper process and consultation and accepted that decisions such as this should not be put through the Decision Book process. That somewhat took me by surprise as well!

So now the proposed car park charge increases will be the subject of a proper process during which time Opposition Councillors can seek to obtain a better deal. I have already argued for an initial short term free period in some of the car parks and tonight officers indicated that they are open to this possibility particularly in the car parks outside the town centre. I will also be seeking a better deal for short to medium term car park users and the possibility of long term charges not being reduced as proposed.

The report also highlighted that NCP took over the management of Reading Borough Council’s car parks on 1 April 2006 and this was put on a firmer contractual footing on 1 April 2007 when a 15 year contract was signed to run and maintain the car parks. The current proposed increase in charges is the first since the arrangement started in 2006. The contract guarantees the Council’s minimum income; a figure that moves annually in line with inflation (RPI).  

Tonight goes to prove that when Opposition Councillors keep an eye on what the administration is doing and then exercise our powers under the Council’s constitution we can make a difference. It has also proved that Conservatives are the effective opposition to this Labour Council. Reading residents will know who to vote for if they want a change from this clapped out Labour administration.