Agenda item

This report provides a review of the impact on visitor numbers and income at The Strand Leisure Park following the introduction of Pay and Display Car Parking in July 2017. This report has been produced at the request of the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee, following consideration at its meeting on 7 December 2017 in response to a petition presented by Councillor Stamp.

Discussion:

The Assistant Director Front Line Services introduced a report setting out the outcome of a review of the impact on visitor numbers and income at The Strand Leisure Park following the introduction of Pay and Display Car Parking in July 2017. This report had been produced at the request of the Committee following consideration of a petition presented by Councillor Stamp on 7 December 2017.

The Committee was reminded that as part of budget setting for 2017/18, Pay and Display Car Parking had been introduced at The Strand Leisure Park from July 2017.

In response to the request of the Committee on 7 December 2017, officers advised that the impacts of adopting Pay and Display Car Parking at the Strand Leisure Park could only be compared against paid activities as no car counter survey data was available for when the car park areas were free. Analysis had therefore been carried out on income levels and footfall for the paid attractions at The Strand Leisure Park for 2017 in comparison with 2016 and 2015 which had shown that there had been no reduction in either since the implementation of Pay and Display charging.

The impact on visits to undertake free recreational activities such as use of the Play Area and dog walking could not be quantified as no counter survey was available.

It was reported that prior to implementation of the car parking charges, it was known that local businesses and students were making use of the top car park as this was always full to capacity Monday to Friday through all seasons. However, since the implementation of parking charges, the same parking area was now not so heavily used outside of the summer months.

The Committee discussed the report and a Member expressed concern that, from data provided, income from facilities at The Strand Leisure Park were not achieving the annual income target of £149,000. He therefore questioned why the Council had introduced Pay and Display parking charges at this site as he considered this reduced the number of users of the facilities and thus reduced income. He referred to the level of income received in 2015 and stated that following improvements to the Strand Leisure Pool, the involvement of the Friends of Strand Pool and the good weather in 2017, the level of income should have been higher in 2017, and he attributed the affect on income levels to the introduction of the car parking charges.

The Member proposed that it be recommended to Cabinet that it abolish car parking charges at The Strand Leisure Park but upon being put to the vote this did not receive the support of the Committee.

In response to the question as to whether the £30,000 catering concession referred to in paragraph 2.3 was included within the £149,000 income target, the Assistant Director Physical and Cultural Regeneration agreed to respond to the Member direct outside of the meeting.

The Assistant Director Physical and Cultural Regeneration also advised that income levels in 2015 would be expected to exceed those in both 2016 and 2017 as the Leisure Pool had longer opening hours in 2015. These opening hours had not proved financially viable and in 2016, the opening hours had been reduced.

A Member pointed out that the income levels and footfall for 2017 as set out in the report at paragraphs 3.3 and 3.4 were for a 6 month period and suggested that an update be provided when data for a full year was available.

Decision:

The Committee:

a)            noted the review of the impacts on visitor numbers and income at The Strand following the introduction of Pay and Display Car Parking in July 2017;

b)            agreed that when income and footfall data is available for a full year, this information be circulated to all Members of the Committee via a briefing note; and

c)            noted that the Assistant Director Physical and Cultural Regeneration will provide information direct to the Member concerned as to whether the £30,000 catering concession is included within the income target of £149,000.