A senior Powys councillor has asked for an update on the long-running car parking review – more than six months after the cabinet member responsible agreed to revisit proposals.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Jackie Charlton agreed last year to reconsider recommendations from a cross-party working group, but little progress has been reported since.

Car parking charges were increased under the 2023/24 budget set by the Liberal Democrat/Labour/Green administration, with new fees coming into force in April 2023.

But the increase has faced strong opposition, prompting the creation of a cross-party working group in autumn 2023 to review the fees and broader car parking arrangements.

Opposition councillors have called for lower charges, arguing that reduced fees would encourage more people to use town centre car parks, support local businesses, and help boost the high street economy.

In September, the review group and council officers presented two sets of options for car parks. A report to a scrutiny committee recommended that cabinet approve the officers’ proposals, noting they would “generate income” for the council.

The argument from the council’s financial chiefs is that money from the higher car parking fees is needed to offset budget deficits that occur within the Highways, Transport and Recycling department.

However, before any decision was taken in November, cabinet pledged to revisit the cross-party group’s findings. They said a “focus group” meeting would to be organised to “help clearly define” a way forward for the review.

Powys Independent group co-leader Cllr Beverley Baynham said: “On February 25, I along with a small group of councillors, cabinet members and senior officers took part in a car park review workshop facilitated by Aberystwyth University.

“The idea of this workshop was to find an agreeable solution to car parking issues throughout the county.

“Despite leaving the meeting thinking we had reached some conclusions, we are now almost three months on and there has been nothing forthcoming from the portfolio holder.”

Cllr Baynham added that a recent visit to Scotland had inspired a new idea for the cabinet to consider, based on her own parking experiences there.

Cllr Baynham said: “I parked in a car park run by The Highland Council where they allowed 30 minutes free of charge - if you required further time you paid for it.

“It would be a very sensible and popular decision if we too could implement the same scheme.

“There is absolutely no point in having car parks that are virtually empty because no one wants to pay £2.50 to pop to the shop for 20 minutes.”

Under the question at any time rules, Cllr Charlton has 10 days to respond to the question.

A council spokeswoman said: “The cabinet member will formally reply to Cllr Baynham’s question within the 10 working days timeframe.

“In the meantime, we can confirm that the cabinet paper has been drafted and is going the various approvals needed and will soon be discussed at by the scrutiny committee prior to cabinet making their decision.”