Decision details

Parking Fees & Charges

Find out more about this issue

Decision Maker: City Mayor (Individual Decision)

Decision status: For Determination

Is Key decision?: No

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To seek approval to vary parking fees and charges, dependant on parking location and tariff band.

Decision:

Please Note: This decision has been Called-In under Rule 12 of Part 4D of the Council’s Constitution and no further legally binding action will be taken on this decision until the Call-In has been addressed.

To approve: revised parking fees and charges (Appendix A), absorbing the convenience fee for payment by phone, and to implement annual increases thereafter to offset increases in operational running costs.

The Director for Planning, Development & Transportation will implement the revised tariffs in accordance with the statutory requirements, through use of delegated powers to authorise the making of, or changes to, Traffic Regulation Orders.

Reasons for the decision:

To ensure parking fees remain aligned with the council’s climate emergency and local transport plan objectives, benchmarking information and budget ceilings, and addressing increased running costs.

Alternative options:

Various price points for parking fees and charges have been considered alongside benchmarking with other cities and public transport to ensure that proposed tariffs reflect the costs and support the Council’s transport policies.

Publication date: 25/03/2025

Date of decision: 25/03/2025

Effective from: 02/04/2025

This decision has been called in by:

Councillor Hemant Rae Bhatia who writes 'We,the undersigned, wish to 'Call-In' the decision made by the City Mayor to increase council on street and off street parking charges. Raising parking fees will disproportionately impact people on low-incomes, many of whom are already struggling with rising living costs and increased council tax payments. Since the Labour government took office, financial pressures have increased significantly, with last week’s Spring Statement bringing further economic strain with reduced help and support. Increasing parking fees will add yet another burden to those who can least afford it. Beyond harming residents, these proposed changes will have a wider negative impact on the city centre's economy. The reason for this is clear. Leicester’s high parking charges are literally driving business and customers away to Fosse Park, which offers free, convenient and safe parking and is just a few minutes away from the city centre.If the council considered reducing parking fees it could actually see an increase in revenue. Attracting more visitors to Leicester would be good for local businesses and it would help to revitalise the city centre. Yet the council seems intent on doing the opposite, making it increasingly unaffordable to park in Leicester, which will result in further economic decline, with more businesses and customers moving to Fosse Park. We also oppose the proposed removal of the "Night Owl" reduced parking rates, as this would harm the nighttime economy. Instead of deterring evening visitors, the council should be encouraging them. Raising parking fees at this time is a bad decision which will hurt residents, businesses and the city’s economy. We respectfully request that the council reconsider the proposals to increase charges and instead starts to adopt policies that will boost investment and encourage economic growth, rather than pricing people out of the city centre. "
Councillor Nigel Porter who writes We,the undersigned, wish to 'Call-In' the decision made by the City Mayor to increase council on street and off street parking charges. Raising parking fees will disproportionately impact people on low-incomes, many of whom are already struggling with rising living costs and increased council tax payments. Since the Labour government took office, financial pressures have increased significantly, with last week’s Spring Statement bringing further economic strain with reduced help and support. Increasing parking fees will add yet another burden to those who can least afford it. Beyond harming residents, these proposed changes will have a wider negative impact on the city centre's economy. The reason for this is clear. Leicester’s high parking charges are literally driving business and customers away to Fosse Park, which offers free, convenient and safe parking and is just a few minutes away from the city centre.If the council considered reducing parking fees it could actually see an increase in revenue. Attracting more visitors to Leicester would be good for local businesses and it would help to revitalise the city centre. Yet the council seems intent on doing the opposite, making it increasingly unaffordable to park in Leicester, which will result in further economic decline, with more businesses and customers moving to Fosse Park. We also oppose the proposed removal of the "Night Owl" reduced parking rates, as this would harm the nighttime economy. Instead of deterring evening visitors, the council should be encouraging them. Raising parking fees at this time is a bad decision which will hurt residents, businesses and the city’s economy. We respectfully request that the council reconsider the proposals to increase charges and instead starts to adopt policies that will boost investment and encourage economic growth, rather than pricing people out of the city centre."
Councillor Patrick Kitterick who writes We,the undersigned, wish to 'Call-In' the decision made by the City Mayor to increase council on street and off street parking charges. Raising parking fees will disproportionately impact people on low-incomes, many of whom are already struggling with rising living costs and increased council tax payments. Since the Labour government took office, financial pressures have increased significantly, with last week’s Spring Statement bringing further economic strain with reduced help and support. Increasing parking fees will add yet another burden to those who can least afford it. Beyond harming residents, these proposed changes will have a wider negative impact on the city centre's economy. The reason for this is clear. Leicester’s high parking charges are literally driving business and customers away to Fosse Park, which offers free, convenient and safe parking and is just a few minutes away from the city centre.If the council considered reducing parking fees it could actually see an increase in revenue. Attracting more visitors to Leicester would be good for local businesses and it would help to revitalise the city centre. Yet the council seems intent on doing the opposite, making it increasingly unaffordable to park in Leicester, which will result in further economic decline, with more businesses and customers moving to Fosse Park. We also oppose the proposed removal of the "Night Owl" reduced parking rates, as this would harm the nighttime economy. Instead of deterring evening visitors, the council should be encouraging them. Raising parking fees at this time is a bad decision which will hurt residents, businesses and the city’s economy. We respectfully request that the council reconsider the proposals to increase charges and instead starts to adopt policies that will boost investment and encourage economic growth, rather than pricing people out of the city centre."
Councillor Scott Kennedy-Lount who writes We,the undersigned, wish to 'Call-In' the decision made by the City Mayor to increase council on street and off street parking charges. Raising parking fees will disproportionately impact people on low-incomes, many of whom are already struggling with rising living costs and increased council tax payments. Since the Labour government took office, financial pressures have increased significantly, with last week’s Spring Statement bringing further economic strain with reduced help and support. Increasing parking fees will add yet another burden to those who can least afford it. Beyond harming residents, these proposed changes will have a wider negative impact on the city centre's economy. The reason for this is clear. Leicester’s high parking charges are literally driving business and customers away to Fosse Park, which offers free, convenient and safe parking and is just a few minutes away from the city centre.If the council considered reducing parking fees it could actually see an increase in revenue. Attracting more visitors to Leicester would be good for local businesses and it would help to revitalise the city centre. Yet the council seems intent on doing the opposite, making it increasingly unaffordable to park in Leicester, which will result in further economic decline, with more businesses and customers moving to Fosse Park. We also oppose the proposed removal of the "Night Owl" reduced parking rates, as this would harm the nighttime economy. Instead of deterring evening visitors, the council should be encouraging them. Raising parking fees at this time is a bad decision which will hurt residents, businesses and the city’s economy. We respectfully request that the council reconsider the proposals to increase charges and instead starts to adopt policies that will boost investment and encourage economic growth, rather than pricing people out of the city centre."
Councillor Zuffar Haq who writes We,the undersigned, wish to 'Call-In' the decision made by the City Mayor to increase council on street and off street parking charges. Raising parking fees will disproportionately impact people on low-incomes, many of whom are already struggling with rising living costs and increased council tax payments. Since the Labour government took office, financial pressures have increased significantly, with last week’s Spring Statement bringing further economic strain with reduced help and support. Increasing parking fees will add yet another burden to those who can least afford it. Beyond harming residents, these proposed changes will have a wider negative impact on the city centre's economy. The reason for this is clear. Leicester’s high parking charges are literally driving business and customers away to Fosse Park, which offers free, convenient and safe parking and is just a few minutes away from the city centre.If the council considered reducing parking fees it could actually see an increase in revenue. Attracting more visitors to Leicester would be good for local businesses and it would help to revitalise the city centre. Yet the council seems intent on doing the opposite, making it increasingly unaffordable to park in Leicester, which will result in further economic decline, with more businesses and customers moving to Fosse Park. We also oppose the proposed removal of the "Night Owl" reduced parking rates, as this would harm the nighttime economy. Instead of deterring evening visitors, the council should be encouraging them. Raising parking fees at this time is a bad decision which will hurt residents, businesses and the city’s economy. We respectfully request that the council reconsider the proposals to increase charges and instead starts to adopt policies that will boost investment and encourage economic growth, rather than pricing people out of the city centre."
Councillor Paul Westley who writes We,the undersigned, wish to 'Call-In' the decision made by the City Mayor to increase council on street and off street parking charges. Raising parking fees will disproportionately impact people on low-incomes, many of whom are already struggling with rising living costs and increased council tax payments. Since the Labour government took office, financial pressures have increased significantly, with last week’s Spring Statement bringing further economic strain with reduced help and support. Increasing parking fees will add yet another burden to those who can least afford it. Beyond harming residents, these proposed changes will have a wider negative impact on the city centre's economy. The reason for this is clear. Leicester’s high parking charges are literally driving business and customers away to Fosse Park, which offers free, convenient and safe parking and is just a few minutes away from the city centre.If the council considered reducing parking fees it could actually see an increase in revenue. Attracting more visitors to Leicester would be good for local businesses and it would help to revitalise the city centre. Yet the council seems intent on doing the opposite, making it increasingly unaffordable to park in Leicester, which will result in further economic decline, with more businesses and customers moving to Fosse Park. We also oppose the proposed removal of the "Night Owl" reduced parking rates, as this would harm the nighttime economy. Instead of deterring evening visitors, the council should be encouraging them. Raising parking fees at this time is a bad decision which will hurt residents, businesses and the city’s economy. We respectfully request that the council reconsider the proposals to increase charges and instead starts to adopt policies that will boost investment and encourage economic growth, rather than pricing people out of the city centre. "

Accompanying Documents: