Agenda item

The report was presented by Barrie Mason, Assistant Director for Highways and Infrastructure, detailing the draft Parking Principles document, which sets out the strategic foundation for a unified countywide parking policy. The framework aims to harmonise the diverse approaches inherited from predecessor councils and establish a consistent, sustainable, and locally responsive parking strategy across North Yorkshire.

 

The proposed three-stage approach includes:

 

1. Adoption of the overarching parking principles.

 

2. Development of specific policies (e.g. residents’ permits, disabled parking, EV charging).

 

3. Creation of local area action plans, beginning with Scarborough, Harrogate, and Whitby.

 

In introducing the report, it was explained that the document is structured around four key themes:

 

• Sustainable and attractive places - Parking should support environmental goals and town centre vitality.

 

• Local economic support - Parking provision must enable access to services and businesses.

 

• Customer service - Car parks should be accessible, safe, and easy to use, with clear signage and multiple payment options.

 

• Financial sustainability - Parking operations should be self-financing and contribute to wider Council priorities.

 

In considering the report, committee members raised concerns about legacy disparities in parking charges and enforcement, and the need to retain cash payment options. Officers confirmed that the new ticketless machines will still accept cash, and that enforcement resources have been bolstered since the transition to a unitary authority.

 

Several members highlighted the need to include cycle and motorcycle parking, active travel integration, and park-and-ride schemes more explicitly in the principles. Officers agreed to review the document to better reflect these modes and confirmed that active travel would fall under the remit of the Combined Authority as part of the forthcoming Local Transport Plan and future strategy development.

 

Furthermore, the negative impact of Airbnb and visitor parking on residential areas was discussed, particularly in tourist areas. Officers acknowledged this pressure in particular areas and confirmed that future policy work would address visitor permits, hotel scratch cards, and a simplification of the current residents’ parking schemes.

 

Concerns were also raised about blue badge misuse, pavement parking, and campervan overnight stays, with Members requesting clearer enforcement and signage. Officers noted that civil enforcement regulations limit the use of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) and that experimental traffic orders are being trialled in some areas to manage campervan parking.

 

Suggestions were made to improve signage, maintenance and security, including the use of CCTV and intelligent signage to reduce vehicle circulation searching for a car parking space. Members also proposed exploring the use of car parks for solar infrastructure and community benefit, though officers clarified that parking income is not currently ring-fenced for local reinvestment.

 

The committee were broadly supportive of the development of draft Parking Principles in this important service area, but made the following key suggestions:

 

• Clearer references in the document made to measures to reduce car travel such as cycle parking, active travel, park and ride.

 

• Recognition of the issues of managing the competing parking needs between residents and visitors.

 

• Explore the potential for localised revenue use from the car parks and the resulting community benefit.

 

• Consideration of seasonal incentives and local flexibility when developing the local area action plans.

 

The report will proceed to the Executive on 19 August 2025. The Committee looks forward to further engagement with officers as specific parking policies and local action plans are developed.