Agenda item

The Cabinet Member considered a petition requesting a reversal of the Council’s decision to remove the 30 minutes free car parking for non-residents.

The petition organiser introduced himself as the chairman of the Hayes Town Business Forum which formed part of the local Chambers of Commerce that consisted of 71 members and was one of the largest business organisations in the Borough.

The lead petitioner put forward to the Cabinet Member some reasons not to abolish the 30 minutes free car parking for non-residents. Key points raised by the petitioner included:

The petition had received 1,121 signatures on behalf of the Hayes Town Business Forum and the Hayes Town Partnership.

Most of the members of the Hayes Town Business Forum were small, independent traders, with strong connections to the Hayes Town Partnership – a multi-agency body established approximately 20 years ago by the Council to promote the regeneration of Hayes Town.

The Chair of the Hayes Town Partnership had sent his apologies for absence for the Petition Hearing but wished to express to the Cabinet Member that the petition was fully backed by the entire Partnership.

The Council had done a lot to support Hayes Town Centre in recent years, beginning with the Shop Front Scheme which had helped transform the appearance and image of the town.

The introduction of the Stop and Shop Parking Scheme was initiated Borough-wide by the Council and the 30 minutes free parking was perceived as a vote of confidence in the town centre and shopping parades.

However, since the Stop and Shop Parking Scheme was put into force, there were a multitude of challenges that faced local shops. For example, operating costs were increased, there was the burden of business rates and also, long-term changes in customer shopping habits.

In addition, following the COVID-19 pandemic, although the government supported public health, the level of trade had not fully recovered.

Although many businesses were largely affected when fuel bills increased and there was rampant inflation in the cost of supplies caused by the war in Ukraine and other various factors, the government support energy charges were welcomed but this was being phased out and the economic recession was being predicted.

Since these recent changes, petitioners were found to be shocked that the Council had abolished the free 30 minutes parking scheme for non-residents which affected customers living in neighbouring Boroughs.

It was claimed there was no notice of the consultation.

The proposals included in the Council Budget report, which had been put forward for consultation, were expressed as having contained many details that were difficult to follow and did not allow a chance for the public and especially businesses to identify what the proposed change was and make an objection.

Hayes Town relied on attracting shoppers from neighbouring areas such as Northolt, Southall, and Hounslow, and many shops were struggling financially because they heavily depended upon drawing customers wherever they came from.

Hayes was a predominately low-income neighbourhood, where families struggled to pay their bills, which inevitably impacted their amount of disposable income to spend in shops.

Considering the Council’s policy to put residents first, it was highlighted that if businesses failed because they had lost an important element of their trade, there would be many empty shops, which would not benefit residents.

The Council’s Stop and Shop Policy had been adopted by other Boroughs, including Harrow, which implemented a policy of 60 minutes free parking. This was the vision the lead petitioner similarly wanted for Hayes – forthe Council to build on its past success in other Boroughs by restoring the 30 minutes free parking for non-residents.

The Cabinet Member asked for clarification from the petitioner on what the effect was on trade in Hayes Town of the abolishment of the free 30 minutes parking scheme for non-residents.

The lead petitioner provided supporting letters as evidence from local shopkeepers and the Chambers of Commerce. It was added that small traders, such as independent shops, had lost trade. The petitioner also cited the experience of a particular shopkeeper in Hayes Town who had lost approximately 40% of his income due to lost trade.

It was emphasised that no signage was apparent in respect of the parking changes on lampposts or anywhere else around the Town Centre.

Councillor Peter Curling attended as Ward Councillor for Hayes Town and addressed the Cabinet Member. The key points raised to reverse the Council’s decision to abolish the 30 minutes free car parking for non-residents included:

There were shops and traders in Hayes Town unique in their trade, such as specialist Asian food stores, where customers sometimes would travel a long distance to visit.

When the Stop and Shop Scheme was originally introduced, it was not only advantageous to residents but also town centres and shopping parades, which became more sustainable and benefitted from other tradespeople passing by the area.

Traders were reported to have been affected in a profoundly negative way by the decision to remove the 30 minutes free car parking for non-residents, resulting in their loss of trade.

Not all residents carried their Hillingdon First card with them and most of the traders losing business were, indeed, residents themselves.

It was noted that the decision to remove the 30 minutes free car parking for non-residents formed part of the Budget Consultation Process, which had been approved by the Full Council last year, and no questions were raised against the decision at the time.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member:

1.    Met with petitioners and listened to their request to reverse the decision to abolish the free 30 minutes parking scheme for non-residents;

2.    Noted that the decision to amend the parking fees and charges was approved by Full Council on 24 February 2022; and

3.    Instructed officers to add the request to reverse the Council’s decision to abolish the 30 minutes free parking for non-Hillingdon First card holders to Cabinet for further consideration.