Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) has experienced a huge shortfall in its income from parking charges, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.

During a strategic planning and infrastructure committee meeting held last night, members heard that at the start of the lockdown period, occupancy of the council's car parks fell to just 5% of normal levels. It has picked up since, but is still running at only 40%.

In addition a number of measures directly related to Covid also caused a loss of income.

The Government declared that councils should give free parking to NHS and social care workers during the worst of the crisis, and with so many more people staying at home, and residents' parking pays filling up, the council voluntarily decided that residents with a valid permit should be able to park in a council off-street car park for free.

In addition council car parks at Mote Park and Cobtree Manor were closed, as a way of enforcing socially distancing.
The overall result is that parking revenue so far this year is running £571,884 below budget, and nearly £500,000 below what it was it for the previous year.

With less traffic, there have also been fewer parking offences and fewer fines issued. As a result, the drop in income is expected to result in an overall budget shortfall of £1.1m.

Councillors noted the report, with chairman Cllr David Burton saying the "severity" of the financial impact had not been lost on members.

He said: "I think we are all going to be very mindful of the need to scrutinise budgets moving forward and the impact that this directly and indirectly is going to have."

Parking tariffs were due to rise in April, but the planned rise was halted because of uncertainty around the pandemic. The increase would have bought in 55,000 more in income for the council.

Yesterday, councillors were asked to consider implementing the rise in April 2021.

A report prepared by officers read: "Failing to implement the increases would create budget pressures elsewhere at a time when the council's budget is already under severe pressure owing to the Covid-19 pandemic."

Councillors agreed to defer the decision until January, when there is an annual review of council fees and charges.

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