COUN Simon Renwick has made an individual cabinet member decision to introduce parking charges at Lowther Gardens.

He is defending his decision and said: "Lowther Gardens are now no longer part of the council but are a charitable trust.
"This is a subtle but fundamental difference and means they can no longer follow the council but have their own set agenda.
"It's unfair to expect every council tax payer to fund it.
"It's not part of the council so we've got to make it stand on its own two feet with a long term financial future.
"We want to maintain the beauty spot, the green flag, putting on shows and we can't continue using taxpayers money.
"We have to look at ways we can do this and there a number of different things."

The first thing Coun Renwick is looking at is charging people to park at the attraction and he continued: "The first and easiest thing to do is ask people who park at Lowther to contribute to the upkeep of the park - I don't think that is too much to expect.
"It will be £2 to park for three hours and for an afternoon at Lowther Gardens I think £2 is pretty good value.
"I think there are concerns it will be profitable for the council but we are only doing this for the Gardens."

The parking charges will mean that between 9am and 6pm Monday to Sunday there will be an hour's free parking before pay and display charges start. After 6pm parking will be free and people putting on events at the venue will be exempt from paying.
Coun Renwick said: "I am aware that people pull in for a bit and that is why the first hour is free.
"After 6pm it will be free for the shows and a lot of people put them on and enjoy them.
"I thought it was unfair for people to pay for the ticket and also pay for the car park.
"If you come to the Gardens you've got to pay to be there but If exhibitors come they will be exempt.
"If people spend less than an hour there they won't pay and if they spend more than an hour surely its right that they contribute."

Other strategies will also be in place to make Lowther stand on its own two feet and Coun Renwick added: "I have decided to produce a business plan over the next 12 months to look at the whole of Lowther Gardens step by step so it can make its own way in life. It's got a lot going for it.
"We have to look at other steps and I don't want to pre-empt the business plan but maybe the fees at the box office, the rent of the cafe, the fees to play sport etc."

Coun Renwick insists his plans are for the good of Lowther Gardens and said: "I want to maintain Lowther Gardens as a beauty spot and we are going to find it increasingly difficult.
"It's a third party charity and you can't expect council tax payers across the borough to pay for it.
"This money will go direct into Lowther Gardens charitable trust account for maintenance to keep it in tip top condition."

The cabinet system has come under fire because the decision was an individual cabinet member decision and Coun Renwick said: "Pretty much every government in the whole world has a cabinet system in a way.
"People spend time and effort in the cabinet delving into issues in greater depth than any other system.
"We won the election and got the mandate of the people based on the cabinet system which wasn't rejected.
"How is undemocratic? People have to stop confusing democracy with getting their own way.
"I didn't just sit down and say I want this to happen.
"It stemmed from informal discussion with the cabinet then talks with professional staff and officers who produced a report which I read and considered along with views from the cafe owner and members of the council.
"Before I took the decision I spent quite some time debating it with the Conservative group - it wasn't just my decision.
"I'm just the instrument in this respect. I didn't do it in isolation - I had professional advice and have done it Conservative and cabinet backing.
"I want to see Lowther Gardens thriving and I don't think we can do it without parking charges.
"This tough decision is the best one."

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