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09
Nov 2022
Shoppers shun Harrogate multi-storey car parks
Harrogate's multi-storey car parks are generating considerably less income than expected this year.
Off-street parking revenue is £293,000 below budget, a Harrogate Borough Council meeting heard on Monday.
Gillian Morland, service finance manager at the council, told the overview and scrutiny committee meeting the Jubilee and Victoria multi-storey car parks were "particularly down on income".
Ms Morland said the looming abolition of Harrogate Borough Council and the creation of a single unitary authority for North Yorkshire presented the chance to improve matters. She said:
The Stray Ferret reported yesterday that Harrogate Borough Council is forecasting to spend £2.5m more than budgeted in its final year of existence.
Read more:
- 20mph speed limits to be tested in Harrogate and Knaresborough
- Harrogate council facing 'sizeable overspend' of £2.5m
This is mainly because utility bills are £1.7m above budget and staff pay is £1.1m higher than expected following the 2022/23 pay award of 6.7% rather than the predicted 2.5% .
But the report to councillors also revealed several other areas of shortfalls.
Besides car parking, planning application income is £320,000 less than expected due to a reduction in applications.
Ms Morland said:
Philip Broadbank, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Starbeck, said he understood there had been "a lot fewer applications" for house extensions because of the economic climate over the last three or four months.
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