The reason I have brought this matter forward is because there has been a change of circumstances since this matter was last discussed.

I believe the council should reconsider decisions they have made, if there has been a change of circumstances, and that it is reasonable to waive standing orders in these circumstances.

The Changes of circumstances are as follows:

1. The Gazette has handed in a petition by members of the public, who want the Council's decision to be reconsidered.

2. The Belwin Fund has awarded the Council two thirds of the money the Council has spent on flood relief works in the Brawby area.

3. If the car park charges are put back to what they were on 31st march 2005, this will be for a period of less than four months, and will cost the Council £57,000

To explain:

The reason the Council raised the car parking fees by 25% was to cover an expected deficit of £171,000. The 25% increase would not have been imposed, if members had not been concerned about this deficit.

It turned out in July that, instead of a deficit, there was going to be a surplus ON REVENUE ACCOUNT. - we are talking about a surplus - not a windfall.

The Council decided to spend that surplus:

£100,000 to be put into the Community Investment Fund

The rest (£161,000) to be spent on flood relief work in the Brawby area.

I understand that since that decision was made, the Belwin Fund has awarded the Council two thirds of the money spent on flood relief in the Brawby Area. I believe the amount the Council will receive will be in excess of £80,000. This means that there is at least £80,000 left from the £261,000 surplus which is available for other purposes.

If car park charges are put back to their March 31" level, the statutory procedures will have to take their course and the change will not be implemented until at least 10`h December, at the earliest.

This leaves less than four months of this financial year.

The income attributable to the increase in car park charges for this period will not be £171,000 - but less than one third of £171,000 - less than £57,000.

Now that the Belwin money has been awarded, the Council will lose nothing by foregoing this income, as it will be covered by the £80,000 that remains of the £261,000 surplus.

And that brings me to the last reason for requesting this matter to be reconsidered:

It's Christmas - please give the shopkeepers a break Please give the public a break.

Please show that we really do care about local business.