Proposed changes to charges and conditions in council car parks for 2026/27
The council has been asking for views on its proposals to make some changes to its car parks to encourage greater use of those that have spare capacity, help tackle the climate emergency and increase income to help pay for vital council services.
This consultation closed on Tuesday 6 January. Thank you to all who took part.
The supporting text and documents are being retained on this page for the public’s information.
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The changes being proposed for the 2026/27 financial year area are as follows:
| Item number | Proposed change | Objective |
| 1 | The hourly rate tariff will increase as follows: Band 1 car parks: +10p an hour (2.7%). See Appendix 1 for full details. | To cover the cost of inflation and proposals that reduce income, and to increase income to help fund essential council services. |
| 2 | All off-street parking permits to increase by approximately 4%. See Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 for full details. | |
| 3 | Redesignate Reculver Country Park car park from Band 2 to Band 3 (tariff decreases from £2.70 an hour to £1.90 an hour). See Appendix 1 for full details. | To reflect the way usage has changed at Reculver Country Park. |
| 4 | It is proposed to allow the sum of £10k in the budget for parking discounts. | To encourage people to visit our towns and city at specific times, such as for events and at Christmas. |
Other supporting information:
- The full Off Street Parking Places Order Deposit Document
- Report to Cabinet on Monday 3 November 2025
- Proposed tariffs for 2026/27 (appendix 1)
- Tariff benchmarking figures
- Proposed permit costs for 2026/27 (appendix 2)
- Public notice
Published: 5 November 2025