The Executive Director (Development) has submitted a report seeking Cabinet approval of changes to the charging period at Oxford City Council Park and Ride sites, and for a trial period to offer combined parking and bus tickets.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.      Agree the use of combined parking and bus tickets at Oxford City Council Park and Ride sites at a reduced price for a six-month trial period from 30 September 2022 (subject to a review after three months);

2.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Development) in consultation with the Head of Financial Services/S151 Officer and the Deputy Leader (Statutory) – Finance and Asset Management to negotiate and finalise the terms of any agreement associated with this trial;

3.      Agree that ability to purchasecombined parking and bus tickets at Oxford City Council Park and Ride will continue as a permanent change beyond the trial. This relates to the types of ticket not the price paid;

4.      Agree to amend the 1-11 hour parking period to become 1-16 hours and the 11-24 hour period to become 16-24 hours. This would commence on the same date as the trial but be a permanent change; and

5.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Development) in consultation with the Head of Financial Services/S151 Officer, the Deputy Leader (Statutory) – Finance and Asset Management and the Cabinet Member for Health and Transport to continue or amend the trial based on a review of the trial feedback and income generated.

The Executive Director (Development) had submitted a report seeking Cabinet approval for changes to the charging period at Oxford City Council Park and Ride sites, and to offer combined parking and bus tickets.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Transport reported that the aim of the proposals was to encourage use of the park and ride; leaving cars on the edge of the city brought a number of benefits, including improved air quality and reduced carbon emissions.  The proposal also aimed to increase the Council’s income from the sites.

The first element of the proposal was to introduce a combined ticket, which would avoid the need for the purchase of separate tickets for parking and for the bus, with the revenue to be divided between the bus companies and the City Council.  This would initially be offered at a discounted rate of £5 for a family, or £4 for a single person.

The second element involved changing the 1 – 11 hour parking period to become 1 – 16 hours, and the 11 – 24 hour period to become 16 – 24 hours.  This would address feedback from workers who, due to work patterns, often required a stay marginally longer than 11 hours, requiring the purchase of a costlier ticket.

The report outlined that a review would be undertaken after three months in order to assess the impact and allow a decision, before the expiry of the six month trial period, as to whether to continue the trial, amend elements and continue for longer, or cease to offer the discount.  Given the time frame which would be required to collate the necessary data for presentation to Cabinet, it was proposed that the delegation under recommendation 5 should enable the Executive Director (Development) and Head of Finance to be able to extend the trial period from six months to twelve months.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.      Agree the use of combined parking and bus tickets at Oxford City Council Park and Ride sites at a reduced price for a six month trial period from 30 September 2022 (subject to a review after three months);

2.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Development) in consultation with the Head of Financial Services / S151 Officer and the Deputy Leader (Statutory) – Finance and Asset Management to negotiate and finalise the terms of any agreement associated with this trial;

3.      Agree that the ability to purchase combined parking and bus tickets at Oxford City Council park and ride sites will continue as a permanent change beyond the trial.  This relates to the type of ticket and not the price paid;

4.      Agree to amend the 1 – 11 hour parking period to become 1 – 16 hours and the 11 – 24 hour period to become 16 – 24 hours.  This would commence on the same date as the trial but be a permanent change; and

5.      Delegate authority to the Executive Director (Development) in consultation with the Head of Financial Services / S151 Officer,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33