Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Customer Service, Welfare and the Public Realm.

To outline and seek approval for the Council's parking schemes and programmes to be delivered across the borough in the next financial year (2022/23).

The Cabinet Member for Customer Service, Welfare and the Public Realm introduced the report which sought approval for the Council's parking schemes and programmes to be delivered across the borough in the next financial year (2022/23).

The Cabinet Member highlighted the following in her introduction:

-       Tackling pavement parking and working with disability groups on this.

-       Issued 1000 free virtual permits for blue badge holders.

-       No charge for badges that were stolen.

-       Visitor permits for Adult social care providers being considered to support vulnerable residents with care needs.

-       Ensuring dedicated bays the correct size.

-       Car free developments – process of considering with Planning which allows the developments to not impact on parking in surrounding areas.

In response to questions from Cllr Cawley- Harrison, the following was noted:

-       As previously referred to, the income from CPZ’s was ringfenced and supported funding the cost of Freedom Passes. The Council was close to reaching financial breaking point but if more CPZ’s were added. The scale of increased resources would also be contingent on the additions and changes time requirements for CPZ’s .

-       In response to a query about revisiting CPZ decisions , the policy passed at Cabinet in March 2020 advised that there would be a review of all CPZ’s within 5 year period so the Council would not keep returning to the area that had rejected a CPZ.

-       Conversations were continuing between Highways Team and Strategic Transport on issues concerning footway parking, over hanging cars and bikes. This fell under ASB enforcement due to different types of laws that required consideration. Cllr Chandwani would advise Cllr Cawley – Harrison of the number of cases that have been dealt with over the last 3 to 4 years.

-       In addition there was work to tackle pavement parking and services will look at roaming bikes that are left on pavements and tackling scooters and mopeds being incorrectly parked and not in designated areas.

RESOLVED

1.    To agree the Parking Investment Plan for the 2022/23 financial year, as set out in section 6 of the report, subject to the consultations not raising any significant or substantial issues: and

2.    With regard to parking investment issues, to give delegated authority to the Head of Highways and Parking:

(i)            To make decisions relating to scheme design and implementation;

(ii)          To carry out consultations in accordance with Appendix 2 attached to this report and report any significant or substantial objections or concerns raised to the Cabinet Member for Customer Service, Welfare and the Public Realm; and

(iii)         To make traffic management orders, having had due regard to any prior consultation, to give effect to those schemes.

3.    To agree the waiver of the £10 administration fee for the replacement of stolen Blue Badges from 1 April 2022.

4.    To agree to the development of a redesigned parking permit offer for residents being cared for in their homes.

5.    To agree to the review of parking permit arrangements for car-free  ...  view the full minutes text for item 756