Elgin parking charges too high

A £27,000 income shortfall has been blamed on an increase in Elgin's car park charges.

John Russell, councillor for Elgin North, has asked for a review to be carried out and a report brought back before elected members.

The issue was debated at a meeting of Moray Council's policy and resources committee today during a review of a monitoring report on the revenue budget.

Councillor Russell said: "Shoppers have not been coming in droves and are spending less time.

"One pound covers up to the first hour.

"I would like to see that upped to two hours in Elgin to bring back a little window shopping and time for tea and a scone."

He added the information required was already available and called for a report to come back to the next meeting of policy and resources.

Concerns were raised that making changes to the budget half way through may set a president for other issued to be revisited.

But it was decided the preparation of a report would not in itself be problematic.

Councillor Allan Wright, committee chairman, put forward an amendment for the report to go to the economic development and infrastructure committee, which is chaired by Councillor Russell.

The amendment was carried by 10 voted to three.

It costs £1.50 for up to two hours parking in Elgin, £3 for four hours and £4 for up to 10 hours.

The first quarterly monitoring report on the revenue budget shows savings of £3 million, however director of corporate services Mark Palmer urges caution as it was still early in the reporting process.