EAST Hampshire District Council (EHDC) proved it was not for turning after deciding on Monday “not to tinker” with a proposal to increase parking charges in Alton and Petersfield from June 5.

To the deep disappointment of local councillors, it was made clear that the increase in charges was about income generation, to shore up EHDC’s budget to the tune of almost £500,000, and had nothing whatsoever to do with supporting East Hampshire’s “fragile” market town economies.

Viewed locally as a “discretionary tax” – applying only to those using car parks in Alton and Petersfield and impacting on the relevant local economies – the revenue looks set to make up the loss incurred by EHDC after it cut its share of the council tax.

The decision to increase charges by an average 13 per cent in Alton and 17 per cent in Petersfield was ‘called in’ by a group of Alton councillors, led by Dean Phillips (Alton Eastbrooke) after he resigned from Cabinet, citing the car-parking issue as “the straw that broke the camel’s back”.

Mr Phillips was supported in his request by fellow councillors David Orme (Alton Wooteys), Andrew Joy (Alton Ashdell), Edward Brandt (Alton Westbrooke) and Charles Louisson (Ropley and Tisted), “so proper consideration can be given to the (parking strategy) report with specific emphasis on potential concessions and to understand the impact on affected communities.”

Described as an “historic occasion”, it was the first time in 17 years that this power had been exercised and it resulted in the matter being put before an extraordinary meeting on Monday of EHDC’s governance, audit and scrutiny committee.

While there was no representation there from Petersfield, Alton Town Council had used the short space of time to shape its argument at least for concessions, based on the result of its own extraordinary public meeting last Thursday which resulted in a united call from members of the business community and residents, backed by a 2,000-signature petition, urging EHDC to “think again”.

Addressing the governance, audit and scrutiny committee meeting on behalf of the town council, mayor Matthew Bayliss opened the batting for the town by questioning “the apparent haste” with which the decision had been made “without any rationale over and above the economic benefit to EHDC”.

He went on to flag up the lack of consultation which, he suggested, could “only have led to an inability of Cabinet to thoroughly understand and appreciate the immediate and detrimental impact on local business, as well as other consequences arising from their decision”.

However, it was made clear by EHDC lawyers that there was no obligation by the council to consult on changes to car-parking charges, other than in areas where there was no current charging programme.

It became apparent that car parking was an “inelastic demand” which could allow it to be used as a “cash cow”, as it would still be used regardless.

Most of the governance, audit and scrutiny committee were persuaded, however, that while the proposed hike may result in a short-term decrease in town centre footfall, local businesses would probably weather the storm.

It was not an argument that swayed the Alton councillors. Having ‘called in’ the decision, they attacked different aspects of the charging part of EHDC’s parking strategy, criticising the way in which the message was delivered, the psychological impact of a discretionary tax, the impact on the rural community, and questioning the urgency of the decision-making process, the lack of transparency and of consultation with town and parish councils and the business community.

Alton, it was confirmed, had last been consulted in 2012, resulting in a strategy based on five-year-old information.

But it was Mr Orme who hit the nail on the head by drawing EHDC on the reason for the price hike which had everything to do with raising money, with no regard for the negative impact on the local economy, despite paying toward the employment of a business development manager in Alton who was working with the community to try to improve the offering and attract people into the town centre.

As a member of the governance, audit and scrutiny committee, councillor Graham Hill (Alton Whitedown) pointed out that Alton was already being hit by internet shopping and by out-of-town outlets such as Waitrose and Aldi, who offered free car parking.

As a result, Alton was hoping to secure a free half hour, free Sunday parking and some cheaper long-term provision to help mitigate the increases.

Sticking to her guns over the charging proposals, Julie Butler, portfolio holder for customer service, pointed out that Alton already had 200 free half-hourly, on-street slots (equating to 20 spaces).

Commenting on the outcome of the meeting, Mr Bayliss said: “This review of car park charges was a key opportunity for East Hampshire District Council to help drive our prosperity, with new charges carefully tailored to our local needs.

“It is plain, however, that East Hampshire District Council’s principal focus, upheld by their governance, audit and scrutiny committee, has instead been on raising significant additional revenue.”