Issue - meetings

To consider a report outlining the vision of a strategic review of the Council’s managed car parks.

(Executive Councillor: Cllr J White)

That the Parking Vision developed by the Members of the ‘Strategic Review of Parking’ Task and Finish Group be endorsed to enable the group to progress to the development of a Parking Strategy for the District.

By means of a report by the Head of Operations to which was appended the Car Park Visioning and the Parking User Survey Report (copies of which are appended in the Minute Book), the Cabinet was updated on the progress of the Strategic Review of Parking Task and Finish Group. Executive Councillors were informed that the car park vision would define the future strategy and shaping of car parking within the District through to 2030. Members were advised that the report determined resident and business requirements to support economy and growth in the District. Timescales for the process would be provided once all research had been completed. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the Parking Vision developed by the Members of the ‘Strategic Review of Parking’ Task and Finish Group be endorsed to enable the Group to progress to the development of a Parking Strategy for the District.

Members are to receive the Strategic Review of Car Parking Task and Finish Group’s Vision.

The Executive Councillor for Operations outlined work undertaken by the Member Task and Finish Group (TFG) and the stages to follow agreement of the Parking Vision. The Panel was reminded that the scope of the TFG’s work does not include reviewing car park fees and charges.

Timescales for future stages were discussed, with strategy development due to commence after the Vision has been agreed. There is a lot more evidence gathering and research to do to inform the strategy and following stages, with no fixed end date set for the final stage as there is a desire to do the work right and the amount of work involved in each stage still needs to be confirmed. The Executive Councillor for Operations will prepare a forward plan.

Members discussed the need to manage public expectations following the survey, with a suggestion that information could be published to set out the next steps and projected milestones. It was felt that in communicating the Vison there would be a need to be clear about why this focuses on Council-run car parks rather than wider car parking issues raised by the public. There were some concerns about the impact of changes to car park ownership since the timescales for asset disposals may require decisions before the parking strategy is likely to be completed.

Members welcomed a proposal to invite the Head of Operations to explain the complexities of Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) to the Panel and suggested that other Members could be invited to attend for this. Findings from the CPE study could be presented to the Panel when ready.

One Member expressed disappointment with the number of survey responses. While the 1,177 participants were a fraction of the number of residents and car park users who could have taken part, the market research company undertaking the survey was impressed with the response.

Panel Members who are members of the TFG confirmed that they were happy with the direction of their work and all Panel Members were in favour of the Parking Vision. The Panel made a recommendation to Cabinet that they endorse the Parking Vision developed.