Free parking in Caerphilly County Borough town centre car parks will be extended until the end of March next year, the council’s cabinet has agreed.
The council had suspended charges at pay and display car parks until December 31, but at a meeting on Wednesday, December 9, the move was extended until at least March 31 to help businesses hit by coronavirus restrictions and support residents in “staying local” for shopping.
What is Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet?
A council’s cabinet is made up of councillors in charge of different policy areas – such as education, environment, local economy, etc – and a leader.
It is separate to the council’s corporate management structure, which is headed up by its chief executive and various directors. Cabinet is made up of councillors, who are elected and have the ultimate say.
Typically, cabinet members are councillors from the party with the most elected council members.
Caerphilly County Borough Council’s cabinet is made up of:
- Cllr Sean Morgan (Nelson) – Leader
- Cllr Jamie Pritchard (Morgan Jones) – Deputy Leader; Prosperity, Regeneration and Climate Change
- Cllr Nigel George (Risca East) – Corporate Services and Property
- Cllr Eluned Stenner (New Tredegar) – Finance and Performance
- Cllr Carol Andrews (Gilfach) – Education and Communities
- Cllr Shayne Cook (Morgan Jones) – Housing
- Cllr Elaine Forehead (Van) – Social Care
- Cllr Philippa Leonard (Risca East) – Planning and Public Protection
- Cllr Chris Morgan (Machen and Rudry) – Waste, Leisure and Green Spaces
Corporate management is made up of unelected employees of the council and has responsibility for day-to-day management of services, such as making sure the bins are collected. Corporate directors work with cabinet members to come up with policy which is then agreed upon by the cabinet.
Last updated October 13, 2023
Free parking will also continue to be offered at country parks, with the exception of Cwmcarn Forest where different arrangements are being considered.
The move by the Labour-led council has been welcomed by Independent and Plaid Cymru groups who have been calling for the extension.
A cross-party task and finish group has been considering the issue and is due to report its findings to the cabinet in January.
But Sean Morgan, deputy leader and cabinet member for economy and enterprise, said the extension was a “great interim move” ahead of the group’s report.
“This is something that businesses desperately need and I am sure they will be glad to know the council is doing all it can to support them,” he said.
The free parking extension from January 1 to March 31 is expected to result in a loss of income of £180,000 for the council, which will need to be funded by the local authority.
But council leader Cllr Philippa Marsden said it was vital to support businesses hit by coronavirus restrictions.
“It’s our aim as a cabinet to support our local businesses on every front and do as much as we possibly can to make sure they survive this time because it is very difficult,” she said.
Cllr Colin Mann, the council’s Plaid Cymru group leader, said the issue would need to be kept under review and may need to be extended again.
“It’s not the length of time that we asked for in the motion that we suspended but it is a welcome move in the right direction,” he said.
Independent councillor, Kevin Etheridge, said traders in Blackwood would support the move.
“I am pleased that all town centre council car parks will be free of charges during this difficult period as we need to protect our High Street to help all independent businesses,” he said.
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