Sunday parking fees introduced as council agrees budget

Sundays charging for car parks and increasing costs for residents parking have been approved as East Herts District Council agreed a budget for the forthcoming financial year.

The budget includes over £90m of investment across the district through the five-year capital spending programme, delivering new leisure, arts and cultural facilities to revitalise town centres and create new opportunities for residents and businesses. This includes £24m for the redevelopment of Hertford Theatre.

The council is also reducing its costs by £1m by introducing Sunday parking charges. Additional savings will also come from charging for permits in Resident Permit Parking Zones at full cost, meaning that residents who use the service pay the full cost of the administration and enforcement.

Sunday parking charges will be the same as the rest of the week. Residents parking permits will increase from £41 to £72 for the first vehivcle, and from £82 to £144 for a second vehicle.

Councillor Geoffrey Williamson, Executive Member for Financial Sustainability, said: "Our aim has been to produce a budget for the coming year, which allows us to maintain levels of service but within our means. So, despite there being many factors working against us, we have nonetheless succeeded in bringing together a budget for next year which still protects front-line services, invests for the future and which overall provides the best deal for the residents and communities across our district."

East Herts residents will still pay the second lowest council tax in Hertfordshire for district council services.

The government has cut funding to local authorities by 37% between 2009-2020.