The evening parking fee introduced to Bedford borough car parks earlier this month was due to an “erroneous” line in a spreadsheet, the portfolio holder for finance has said.
Both this £2 fee, and the £2 Sunday parking charge, have been removed under delegated authority to councillor officers, he added.
Councillor Jim Weir (Conservative, Great Denham) told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) that the original report showed that the charges were going to be introduced.
“But, it’s quite clear in the report that it also says we won’t,” he said. “The 900 entries on the fees and charges [spreadsheet] got a little bit confused at some point.
“Therefore, the parking was showing as overnight at £2; we categorically stated again [at the Executive Meeting, 8 January] that it will not be charged. That would be removed because it was erroneous.”
The fees and charges report containing these additional charges was sent in a reports pack to full council (27 November) and was debated at the budget and corporate services overview and scrutiny committee (5 December). Cllr Weir was asked why no one noticed the error.
Read: Council accused of ‘u-turn’ after reversing ‘stealth’ Sunday parking charges
“Because it’s nearly a thousand-entry line spreadsheet,” cllr Weir said.
“If you ever go and look at the report and start scrolling through the fees and charges, it’s page after page after page. All the words said no, but the numbers appeared and they were passed down through officers, and they acted on it.
“But as soon as the first person shouted, we realised that was an error somewhere. So we didn’t u-turn, it wasn’t a conspiracy, it wasn’t a mayoral pet project.
“It was an error, they do happen, and I apologise because it is under my watch because, I’m the portfolio holder so it was my error. I should have read every single of the 900 lines and spotted it, and I didn’t.
“So I do apologise to anybody that’s been caught on that.”
Taking blame
Previously, the council had blamed a ‘discrepancy’, then the mayor took to social media to take responsibility and now cllr Weir has taken the rap.
Read: Mayor holds hands up to Sunday parking error urging drivers to request refund
During yesterday’s Executive Meeting (Wednesday, 8 January), the Liberal Democrat group leader, councillor Henry Vann (De Parys), added his frustration.
“I think we need to be really clear that either members of the Executive knew what was going on, or people didn’t know what was going on, which is also hugely concerning in terms of the operation and functioning of the council,” he said.
The LDRS asked councillor Weir if the administration should know what every officer is doing, when they are doing it, and how they are doing it.
“No, and that would be disrespectful to officers as well, wouldn’t it?” he said. “And we just don’t have the capacity or time to do that either.”
During December’s Budget and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee cllr Christine McHugh (Lib Dem, Goldington) and cllr Michael Headley (Lib Dem, Putnoe) spoke of their concerns of the “across the board” 10 per cent increase in parking fees.
The £2 evening and Sunday charges were not explicitly mentioned, even after mayor Tom Wootton said weekend parking was free.
A Lib Dem spokesperson said: “The Sunday, evening and overnight changes were not presented to the committee, as the increased charges didn’t become apparent to anyone until the new year.
“It is very poor governance that the committee had not been properly informed of these plans and we have discussed this with the council’s monitoring officer,” they said.
However, the two entries introducing these fees were shown on page 52 of the report sent to the Committee, which can be found here.
Reversal welcomed
Harpur Ward cllrs, Colleen Atkins and Zara Layne, said they were delighted with the decision to remove the charge at Foster Hill Road car park.
“This reversal will be welcomed by Black Tom residents, visitors to the park, the nighttime economy and businesses. We are pleased to have successfully intervened regarding Foster Hill Road,” they said.
“Other councillors were equally alarmed by the decision and similarly challenged the charges for Sunday parking and overnight in council car parks too.
“It is a shame that a great many people have been worried and stressed by the proposed charge, plus the unnecessary cost of having implemented it with changes to the car parking machines and signs, and now, with the further cost of reversing it.”
The councillors confirmed they had contacted the council to request a correction of the website as the £2 charge is still showing on it.
“Also, there needs to be clear instructions about how drivers can claim a refund if they have already paid,” they said.
The owner of Esquires live music venue, Gareth Barber, told the Bedford Independent, “I’m really pleased that common sense has prevailed during this council meeting and the nighttime parking charges have been reversed.
“Anything that actively helps the local economy at this difficult time is much welcomed – we can’t be putting barriers in place for people to visit our town centres.
“I have to thank Henry Vann, Doug McMurdo, Mohammad Yasin and every other councillor who opposed these changes, which were poorly thought out and seemingly put in place without prior consultation among other council members or local businesses.”
A spokesperson for Bedford BID, which represents businesses in the town centre, said: “The initial decision to introduce the changes was a surprise and huge disappointment.
“We welcome the U-turn by Bedford Borough Council.”
by John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
with additional reporting by Erica Roffe
