Issue - meetings

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

To seek approval of Parking Strategy and changes to parking policy/permits and charges, and where appropriate authority to proceed to statutory consultation on proposals.

The Cabinet Member for Resident Services and Tackling Inequality introduced the report which sought the adoption of a new Parking Strategy, which was designed to foster a cohesive and forward-thinking approach to traffic management. The strategy refined the Council’s parking management framework, significantly enhancing its contribution to the Councils strategic objectives. The strategy further aimed to alleviate congestion, support local businesses, improve air quality, and enhance the overall vitality of the borough’s diverse community.

The report further sought approval of several parking policy/charges changes that supported the delivery of this new strategy.

The Cabinet Member described the pivotal role of parking in the borough context of having thousands of businesses, thousands of people working in the borough and an significant increase in homes and business spaces coming forward. She further highlighted the popularity of the borough and its cultural sites, and the policies were also taking account enabling older and disabled people to live independent lives.

The parking strategy attached aimed to prepare the borough for parking in the future with an action plan attached.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Environment and Transport praised the Cabinet Member and the Parking team for their work, remarking that how parking has significant positive impacts on the climate, improving accessibility, road safety, air quality.

In response to questions from Cllr Emery, the following information was noted:

-       With regards to modelling charges for potential increased take up of Electrical Vehicles, it was noted that there was still a need to incentivise residents for taking up electrical vehicles and Appendix D reflected this as well as providing comparable charging rates of other boroughs. However, parking was not the main issue for residents but the need for increased charging facilities.

-       Regarding the £880,000 overspend in Parking, referred to in the previous financial outturn report, the service was working on transforming the Parking service and making it as automated as possible. This needed initial investment to fulfil the overall aim for the service to achieve full cost recovery going forward.

-       Regarding the discontinuation of daily visitor permits and whether the system could be retained whilst cracking down on abuses, it was noted that the current daily pass visitor pass cost £4 a day and incentivised visitors to stay parked all day in a CPZ area. Therefore, in a CPZ area where there were businesses this had a detrimental impact as it did not allow the flow of customers needed. This situation also provided a cheaper option for people parking near a station and leaving their car all day when catching the train for work. Charging by the hour for parking supported business and residents in the borough.

RESOLVED

1. To approve the Parking Strategy attached as Appendix A.

2. To note the responses received to the informal consultation regarding the parking policy review attached to this report at Appendix B and 6.18.

3. To approve the changes to parking and other charges as set out in Appendix D (section 2 – paragraphs 2.1-2.3 and section 3  ...  view the full minutes text for item 152