Consideration was given to the report of the Head of Neighbourhood Services that proposed that the Council relocated the facility for customers to pay by cash in Council owned car parks to nearby PayPoints when the current cash collection contract ended in 2024.  Providing a cash payment option for parking at local PayPoints rather than within car parks was already in place or in the process of being adopted in several other Council areas including locally, Brighton and Hove.

The Council operated 24 chargeable car parks, 17 of which currently offered a cash payment option via the pay and display machines, alongside other methods, including cash or card payment at a PayPoint (usually a local shop).

The rationale for the proposal was detailed within the report, with the following key considerations:

-           cash collection levels had consistently fallen since COVID-19 (25% year on year) with the current breakdown across the district for car park payments being 40% RingGo, 30% cash, and 30% credit/debit card system;

-           the current cash collection contract cost the Council £30,000 per annum and was due to expire on 31 August 2024, with an option for an earlier termination date of 31 March 2024.  It was likely that with contract uplifts and high inflation rates, procuring a new contract would cost approximately 10-15% more per annum by 2024;

-           a saving of £30,000 per annum would be realised should the cash collection contract not be renewed; there would be one-off costs of circa £10,00 to update payment machines and signage; and

-           ceasing to use a cash collection contractor would aid the Council’s carbon reduction targets by reducing travel around the district to collect cash, saving approximately 5-6 tonnes of CO2 per annum.

The following alternative Options had also been considered and set out in the report:

-           procure a reduced cash collection contract from April 2024 for the most cash-used car parks - De La Warr Pavilion (DLWP), Bexhill-on-Sea, Mount Street and Upper Market, Battle.  However, this option would not assist with savings target nor achieve the desired carbon emissions savings; it was noted by Members that there was still a significant number of cash transactions in these car parks; and

-           procure a new cash collection contract from August 2024 for all existing payment machines on similar terms as the current contract – essentially no change to the existing arrangements.  This would not result in any savings and was likely to cost more than the current contract nor achieve the desired carbon emissions savings.

It was recognised that the proposed favoured approach would be less convenient to some customers. An Equality Impact Assessment had been completed which had identified that vulnerable customers, such as those who were technologically excluded or did not have access to mobile phones or credit/debit cards, would be unable to pay by cash to park within the car park. 

All car parks that currently had a cash payment option in Bexhill, Battle and Rye had a PayPoint within 0.2 miles, and car parks in Camber had a PayPoint within 0.4 miles.  Members were also concerned for elderly residents who were still using private vehicles, had reduced mobility and for their ability to walk to a PayPoint within the grace period.  It was noted that any business could apply to become a PayPoint, although there were significant set-up costs with having to offer all possible transactions at PayPoints rather than just car parking fees.  The DL WP would be contacted in this regard.  

Currently there was a 10-minute grace period for customers upon arrival to enable them to pay to park; this was considered sufficient as customers did not have to return to their vehicle to display a ticket if they paid at a PayPoint.  Whilst some Members suggested that the grace period be extended, it was considered that this would have a detrimental impact on enforcement and it was suggested and agreed to monitor the situation, following implementation.  It was noted that should a customer be unlucky enough to get a parking ticket between leaving their vehicle and purchasing a ticket at a PayPoint, there was an appeals mechanism with each case being considered individually.

Blue Badge holders who were in receipt of certain benefits could apply for permits which enabled them to park in any Rother District Council car park, without paying a parking fee and these customers would be unaffected by any changes to cash payment methods within car parks.  It was not feasible to simply provide parking permits to all Blue Badge holders as this would have a wider impact on income and would represent a change in policy, which had not been considered at this stage. 

Signage within car parks and communication using the Council’s My Alerts and social media platforms would be a key part of relocating cash payments, alongside promoting other options such as parking permits which provided a more cost-effective alternative for regular parkers / residents. 

It was likely that the use of cash payments in car parks would continue to reduce year on year as customers turned to using ‘contactless’/card payments and RingGo payments. Relocating the ability to pay by cash to local PayPoints enabled customers to continue to pay for parking by cash, removed the need for a new cash collection contract, and so supported the Council in its financial stability programme and carbon emissions reduction.  Whilst Cabinet recognised the concerns discussed, the key driver was the identification of much needed savings for local tax payers. 

RESOLVED: That the Director - Place and Climate Change be authorised to:

1)         relocate the cash payment option from Rother District Council ‘pay and display’ machines to local PayPoints, subject to the outcome of the budget consultation; and

2)         promote the new cash payment locations by directing customers choosing to pay with cash to the nearest PayPoints.