Issue - meetings

Rescinded the resolution in Minute No 105 (e) and approved the introduction of car parking charges outlined as option 1 hybrid, as shown in the revised annex.

(In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.1 a Notice of Motion was submitted by seven Executive Councillors to enable the Cabinet to consider the rescission of the decision made at their meeting held on 21st February 2008 (Minute No. 105 refers) in respect of the introduction of car parking charges and to allow the matter to be reconsidered at this meeting).

With the aid of a report by the Head of Planning Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet reconsidered the level of charging to be introduced as part of the Car Parking Strategy Action Plan.

Members were reminded that at their meeting on 31st January 2008, charging Option 1 had been approved. Following “call-in” by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Support) the decision had been reconsidered by the Cabinet and charging Option 2 approved including a 50% reduction in season tickets for vehicles with CO²  of 120g/km or less.

Mindful of the potential impact Option 2 charges would have on the overall delivery of the action plan, the environment strategy and the local economies of the District’s market towns and having regard to an amended Annex incorporating a new hybrid charging option and the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Support) thereon, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the resolution in Minute No 105 (e) of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 21^st February 2008 be rescinded and the following substituted therefor –

“that the proposed car parking charges outlined as option 1 hybrid, as shown in the revised annex now submitted, be approved and advertised”.

To receive an oral report by the Director of Central Services on the outcome of the call-in, by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Support), of the decision of the Cabinet relating to the Car Parking Strategy.

Noted the views expressed by the Overview & Scrutiny (Service Support) Panel;

Agreed to introduce a reduction of 50% in the cost of a car parking season ticket for cars with CO² emissions of 120g/km or less as part of the implementation of the car parking action plan with effect from 1^st June 2008;

Agreed that the wider issues of encouraging the use of low emission vehicles, public transport, cycling and walking be dealt with in the development of the Environment Strategy and in the next review of the car parking action plan;

Agreed that surplus income from car parking charges be not ringed fenced for integrated, sustainable and accessible transport;

Agreed to amend the resolution in Minute No 99 (c) of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 31^st January 2008 and approved the proposed car parking charges outlined as the second option in Annex D of the Car Parking Strategy Action Plan and their advertisement;

Agreed to amend the resolution in Minute No 99 (d) of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 31^st January 2008 and agreed that issues relating to climate change in the car parking action plan be reviewed following a period of 6 months after the introduction of the revised charges;

Requested that further consideration be given by the Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy, a representative of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Support) and relevant officers to the initial scoping of the review of the Car Parking Action Plan referred to in (f) above.

Further to Minute No. 07/99 and with the assistance of a report by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Service Support) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered the deliberations of the Panel following its “call in” of the decision made by the Cabinet on the proposed car parking strategy action plan for Huntingdonshire at its meeting on the 31^st January 2008.

Members were advised that the Panel had been disappointed that the Cabinet had decided to accept the Car Parking Working Party’s recommendation to introduce a 25% reduction in the cost of a car parking season ticket for vehicles with emissions below 120g/km. The Panel had felt that the Cabinet should take a more innovative approach and introduce greater incentives to encourage motorists to purchase and use low emission vehicles. In the discussion that ensued, Executive Councillors took the opportunity to reconsider the level of charges to be introduced for car parking from 1^st June 2008, given the financial implications of introducing a reduction for season ticket holders with low emission vehicles.

With regard to the Panel’s recommendation regarding the use of surplus income it was assumed would be generated by increased car parking, Executive Councillors reiterated that it would not be appropriate to ring fence surplus income from charges in accordance with Council policy.  Members also noted that the Council’s expenditure on highways and transportation issues far exceeded any surplus that might be made from car parking charges.

In discussing arrangements to review the Car Parking Action Plan, Executive Councillors recognised the need to consider climate change issues within the forthcoming Environment Strategy and that it would therefore be appropriate to reconsider the implications for the car parking action plan earlier than previously intended.

Having acknowledges the Overview and Scrutiny Panel’s input into the matter, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  that the views expressed by the Overview & Scrutiny (Service Support) Panel be noted;

(b)  that a reduction of 50% in the cost of a car parking season ticket for cars with CO² emissions of 120g/km or less be introduced as part of the implementation of the car parking action plan with effect from 1^st June 2008;

(c)  that the wider issues of encouraging the use of low emission vehicles, public transport, cycling and walking be dealt with in the development of the Environment Strategy and in the next review of the car parking action plan;

(d)  that surplus income from car parking charges be not ringed fenced for integrated, sustainable and accessible transport;

(e)  that the resolution in Minute No 99 (c) of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 31^st January 2008 be amended and the proposed car parking charges outlined as the second option in Annex D of the Car Parking Strategy Action Plan be approved and advertised;

(f)  that the resolution in Minute No 99 (d) of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 31^st January 2008 be amended and issues relating to climate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 105

To consider the decision made by the Cabinet on 31^st January 2008 on the Car Parking Strategy Action Plan, which has been called-in by the Panel, as described in a report by the Head of Administration.

(Councillor I C Bates, Leader of the Council and Councillor P L E Bucknell, Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy, Environment and Transport were in attendance for this Item).

The Panel received a report by the Leader of the Council (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining a series of suggestions in response to the issues raised.

Further to Minute No. 07/67 Members were reminded that at their meeting held on 15th January 2008, they had decided to raise no objections on a proposed car parking action plan formulated by the Car Parking Working Party but had invited the Cabinet to take into account a number of issues when the Action Plan was considered. As those matters had not been accepted by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 31st January 2008, eight Members of the Panel had called in the Cabinet’s decision on the action plan.

The Chairman expressed the Panel’s concern and disappointment that its recommendations had not been accepted by the Cabinet.  Having considered the revised draft action plan, the Panel remained of the view that the proposed 25% reduction in the cost of a car parking season ticket for vehicles with emissions below 120g/km was not sufficiently ambitious to produce a noticeable impact on the District as this would apply to no more than a handful of vehicles.  The Panel reiterated that the Cabinet should take a more innovative approach in creating positive incentives to encourage motorists to purchase and use lower emission vehicles.

The Leader of the Council informed the Panel that the Cabinet had felt that no further information was required on the implications of the Panel’s support for greater incentives for the public to use low emission vehicles. In addition this would be influenced by the emerging Environment Strategy and the Leader suggested that any change should be dealt with as part of a wider review of environmental issues.

In the ensuing discussion, the Team Leader for Transportation advised Members of the current administration process for purchasing car parking season tickets by residents in Huntingdonshire and how this could be adapted to meet the needs of a proposed “green badge” scheme with a discount for lower emission vehicles.

In relation to the use of surplus income generated from car parking charges, the Panel drew attention to the statement in the current car parking strategy that the Council would direct surplus income derived from car parking charges to the furtherance of securing measures to promote integrated, sustainable and accessible transport.  Having been advised of the Cabinet’s view that flexibility should be retained to enable budgets to be managed within a policy adopted by the Council of not ring fencing income, the Panel highlighted the inconsistency between the strategy statement and Council policy.  The Leader of the Council acknowledged the anomaly but reaffirmed the view of the Cabinet that income should not be ring fenced in order to maintain flexibility in delivering service improvements.

Following questions by Members regarding the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85