Car parking charge freeze on the cards for Stafford in 2021
Fees and charges for Stafford Borough Council services are set to go up by three per cent next year – but car parking costs are not set to rise for motorists in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Car parking fees were increased at the start of 2020 for the council-run facilities in Stafford and Stone.
Sunday and evening charges were also brought in, which sparked anger in Stone from businesses, town councillors and churchgoers.
In 2021 there are no plans to increase car parking charges however, a fees and charges review document presented to Thursday’s Stafford Borough Council cabinet meeting revealed.
It stated: “Parking (is) still in recovery phase from Covid-19 therefore any increase would not be appropriate.”
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Several bereavement services charges are set to be frozen too in 2021, including cremation fees and grave maintenance.
Stafford Borough Council’s income from parking charges has plummeted in 2020 after the coronavirus pandemic and national lockdown measures forced many businesses and venues in Stafford and Stone to close for several weeks.
Stafford Borough Council suspended charges at its car parks at the start of the first lockdown in March and ticket machines were covered up so motorists would not have to risk catching coronavirus by touching them.
Parking charges were brought back in June, as more businesses were able to reopen. But Stafford Borough is projected to lose £1.36 million income from its car parks this year – and this figure could rise after a second national lockdown came into force this month.
Councillor Aidan Godfrey, the authority’s opposition group leader, has previously raised concerns about fees and charges being increased in the wake of financial pressures.
At Thursday’s cabinet meeting senior councillors heard there were some increases on the cards however. They recommended the proposed fees and charges for 2021 be approved by the full council at a future meeting.
Councillor Mike Smith, cabinet member for finance, said: “We propose that fees and charges will be increased generally by three per cent in line with the consumer price index, coupled with the fact we have an increase in our costs due to extra salary increases for the staff and for their pension contributions.”
Council leader Patrick Farrington said: “In addition to the decision this evening it will go formally to scrutiny and then onto council on November 24.”
