Meter scheme opposed

Press, 3 April 1980, Page 12

Meter scheme opposed

Higher charges for park-ing-meter enforcement by the Ministry of Transport may be resisted by the Christchurch City Council. - Members of the council’s public-utility committee have said they agreed with part of the suggested increase b’ut the rest could not be justified. According to the Ministry, the Government has now directed that all parkingmeter enforcement costs must be recovered. The Ministry has proposed a change from the. present flat rate per meter to 4 council payment of $15,000 for each of the nine meter officers. The total cost of $135,000

would be an increase of $55,000 on the present charge. 1 Councillors were told that the Dunedin City Council has refused to pay more than the $lO per meter in their present agreement. In effect, the Ministry is asking for the equivalent of $65 per meter. So far, the council has offered $45 per meter. Three years ago, the council was paying only $20,000 a year to the Ministry for meter enforcement; Charges were last increased in 1977, when the council agreed to pay $4O for each metered parking’ space; That was a $3O increase; ," : ’ ■ Councillors’ said the

charge per meter officer should be only $10,680, which is considered to be about the national average cost of providing the service. That would mean a cost of $45 per meter. The Ministry should consider raising the standard parking fine from $3 to $5; then reducing the fine if it was paid within 14 days. That system would add administration costs to outstanding fines, and the Ministry could retain the administration fees. . Councillors also said the mete r-enforcement ■ cost should be increased annually, in line with the cost-of-living Index- '