00:00 Difficult finances may mean more expensive parking.
00:03 Medway Council released their budget for the next year,
00:06 which relies on permission to borrow an additional £14.5m from the government
00:10 to address the shortfall in finances.
00:12 The Council are cutting a number of services and raising charges in multiple areas.
00:16 This includes a 4.99% increase in Council tax.
00:21 To generate additional revenue, the Council is eyeing changes in parking charges.
00:25 This involves an increase in pay and display rates
00:28 and the introduction of parking fees at country parks.
00:31 If the government rejects the funding request,
00:34 Medway Council faces the daunting task of revisiting the budget,
00:37 potentially leading to more severe service cuts
00:40 or even a declaration of effective bankruptcy through a Section 114 notice.
00:44 Pay and display car parks like this one right here in Medway are set to become more expensive.
00:51 Medway Council announced proposals that could see an increase
00:54 in the hourly pay and display rate by 60p.
00:57 The increase in parking charges is set to give the Council
01:00 an extra £1m in the next financial year.
01:03 Well look, I mean, we've always prioritised parking because we know
01:07 that it's important for residents.
01:09 60% of journeys in the UK are taken by car.
01:13 In terms of the plans announced by the administration,
01:16 it's not just a pay-as-you-go increase.
01:18 Obviously, there's other increases to some of the season tickets,
01:22 particularly at some of our longer stay car parks at train stations,
01:26 which we need to obviously need to have a look at.
01:29 Once we've looked at all of those,
01:30 we'll be able to provide a comprehensive response in terms of how we would proceed.
01:35 But obviously, as I say, it is very important that all of this is viewed
01:39 and scrutinised very closely by us as an opposition.
01:42 The leader of Medway Council commented on the proposed changes.
01:47 So none of these decisions are easy.
01:49 They're all challenging.
01:51 And of course, we knew that when we first got elected back in May,
01:53 we knew the finances would be challenging,
01:56 but we're taking the responsible approach,
01:59 and I hope that we see the support from government that we need.
02:02 So obviously, the increases will take effect on the whole from the 1st of April,
02:05 and they are subject to our processes,
02:08 both going through Cabinet and indeed full Council,
02:10 where the final budget will be agreed.
02:13 Any one of those increases where we have increased fees,
02:16 I accept will be really challenging for a number of residents.
02:19 There is a level of support available across Medway,
02:22 including from Medway Council.
02:23 So if families are struggling, I'd encourage them to look at that.
02:26 The future of Medway Council's finances is uncertain.
02:30 The next few weeks will reveal whether the Council can secure the government loan,
02:33 and if the plan in the proposed capital and revenue budget,
02:37 including increased pay and display parking fees, will go ahead.
02:40 Miriam Bogosa for KMTV.
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