Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Environment and Resident Experience.  To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Tackling Inequality and Resident Services.

The Cabinet Member for Tackling Inequality and Resident Services introduced the report which sought approval of the revised Parkings Schemes – Resident Engagement Policy.

Councillor Hakata endorsed the report and recommendations.

In response to Councillor Barnes, the following was noted:

-       The Council had a statutory responsibility for maintaining traffic flow throughout the borough.  There may be some instances where the Council needs to make a decision contrary to what residents want, for example, matchday restrictions may need to be implemented in areas where residents did not necessarily want a CPZ.

RESOLVED

1.            To approve the revised Parking Schemes – Resident Engagement Policy, attached as Appendix 1.

Reasons for decisions

Managed on-street parking not only improves road safety by removing dangerous parking and improving sight lines - it also prioritises local need and protects parking spaces for residents, whilst enabling communities and individuals to be better connected, have greater access to opportunities and live in a cleaner, greener, and less congested environment. It helps tackle health inequalities, by encouraging active travel and improving air quality and enables deliveries to take place throughout the borough.

Additionally, controlled parking zones and managed parking schemes lead to fewer abandoned and dangerous vehicles on the streets whilst increasing the regular visible presence of uniformed enforcement officers across neighbourhoods.

This policy is intended to provide clear guidance on how residents and businesses can request to have parking in their streets managed and protected. It provides a framework for how the schemes can be co-produced to ensure they are fit for the local communities that benefit from them.

Alternative options considered.

Consideration was given to retaining the policy adopted in 2020. Whilst this set out an overarching framework for CPZ implementation, it lacked clarity of process and decision-making and that, in the main, parking controls are a choice for communities – a tool that they can use to improve their environment. It is therefore appropriate to replace the Controlled Parking Zone Policy with a new, broader Parking Schemes – Resident Engagement Policy.