Agenda item

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 developments to strengthen associated policies.

 

6.    To agree the need to redefine relevant policies to ensure a consistent understanding of disabled parking needs and their application, thereby ensuring that access to specialised transport meets the complex needs of disabled children and their carers.

 

Reasons for decisions

 

Parking policies play a major role in shaping neighbourhoods and how our public realm is used. The Council’s Transport Strategy clearly identifies its vision for less reliance on the private car, especially for short journeys which can easily be undertaken (by most people) by walking, cycling and public transport.

 

Proposals in this report will:

·         Ensure that residents with additional and complex needs have barriers (caused by current policies) removed.

·         Co-produce parking control solutions with residents to reduce commuter parking, excessive visitor parking or parking pressures potentially caused by new developments in their neighbourhoods.

·         Support innovation in the use of various traffic restraint measures for example Red Routes, to improve road safety.

·         Ensure pedestrians and wheelchair users have priority use of our footways by removal of parking which encroaches on their right of way.

·         Use our powers to protect Blue Badge holders from theft and fraud.

 

Alternative options considered

 

The proposed programme prioritises new CPZs having considered residents’ views. The review of existing CPZs is in line with the Controlled Parking Policy agreed by Cabinet in March 2020 and will address concerns raised by residents. This will also support the Council’s modal shift aspirations.

 

The programme will also be consolidated to take account of schemes delayed further due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Where possible, those schemes will now be progressed in the coming year, details of which are provided in Appendix 1.

 

Other programmes (such as review of footway parking, provision of electric vehicle charging points and car club bays) will also help contribute towards supporting modal shift and use of less polluting vehicles. These measures will help increase walking and cycling, thereby reducing air pollution and help towards addressing the climate emergency.

 

 

 

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 developments to strengthen associated policies.

 

6.    To agree the need to redefine relevant policies to ensure a consistent understanding of disabled parking needs and their application, thereby ensuring that access to specialised transport meets the complex needs of disabled children and their carers.

 

Reasons for decisions

 

Parking policies play a major role in shaping neighbourhoods and how our public realm is used. The Council’s Transport Strategy clearly identifies its vision for less reliance on the private car, especially for short journeys which can easily be undertaken (by most people) by walking, cycling and public transport.

 

Proposals in this report will:

·         Ensure that residents with additional and complex needs have barriers (caused by current policies) removed.

·         Co-produce parking control solutions with residents to reduce commuter parking, excessive visitor parking or parking pressures potentially caused by new developments in their neighbourhoods.

·         Support innovation in the use of various traffic restraint measures for example Red Routes, to improve road safety.

·         Ensure pedestrians and wheelchair users have priority use of our footways by removal of parking which encroaches on their right of way.

·         Use our powers to protect Blue Badge holders from theft and fraud.

 

Alternative options considered

 

The proposed programme prioritises new CPZs having considered residents’ views. The review of existing CPZs is in line with the Controlled Parking Policy agreed by Cabinet in March 2020 and will address concerns raised by residents. This will also support the Council’s modal shift aspirations.

 

The programme will also be consolidated to take account of schemes delayed further due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Where possible, those schemes will now be progressed in the coming year, details of which are provided in Appendix 1.

 

Other programmes (such as review of footway parking, provision of electric vehicle charging points and car club bays) will also help contribute towards supporting modal shift and use of less polluting vehicles. These measures will help increase walking and cycling, thereby reducing air pollution and help towards addressing the climate emergency.