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Agenda item

Car Parking Review

*     Report by Dr Carlton Brand, Corporate Director.

Minutes:

 The Deputy Leader, Councillor John Thomson, presented a report which sought Cabinet’s approval of the revised Wiltshire Local Transport Plan (LTP) 2011-2026 – Car Parking Strategy.

 

In the course of the presentation by officers and the discussion, the issues discussed included: that over 14,000 comments had been received as part of the consultation; that the previous strategy was developed in 2010; an outline of the methodology used; how members of the public and Scrutiny Members had been engaged; how the review sought to deal with recent changes to Central Government policy and guidance; how initiatives could be trialled; how assets had been identified for possible review; the statutory process required for Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs); how community stakeholders could be engaged; the impact of the proposals on different communities; that the implementation of new technology should be gradual; and how the review benefited from considering the experience of other authorities.

 

Councillor John Walsh referred to the work of the Scrutiny Task Group, and drew particular attention to the impact of the proposals in the Salisbury area. He proposed, in his personal capacity, to Cabinet that they defer implementation of the proposals in Salisbury to enable a review of the bus services in the area. Councillor John Thomson stated that a delay in implementation would not be advisable and that the proposals had support of the Business Improvement District group in Salisbury, and that, unlike other communities in Wiltshire, Salisbury had Park and Ride scheme that visitors were encouraged to use.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Jon Hubbard, Councillor John Thomson stated that he was open to discussions from the communities that wished to take over specific car parks, and that he felt that the council should be able to take a sufficiently flexible approach to address any financial planning issues that would prevent communities from meeting their aspirations in this matter.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Jon Hubbard, Councillor John Thomson stated that he would give a written answer regarding the different rates for annual permits in Calne, Melksham and Chippenham, and that if there was a discrepancy, the matter could be reviewed.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Alison Bucknell, Councillor John Thomson stated Blue Badge holders would not be charged for parking. Councillor Bucknell, as portfolio holder for Equalities, welcomed the inclusion of the Equalities Impact Assessment in the report papers.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Stewart Dobson, Councillor John Thomson stated that the Council would consider ways to spread the cost of annual permits to help make it a more affordable option for lower-paid workers.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Stewart Dobson, Councillor Stuart Wheeler stated that the car park at Savernake Hospital was owned by the NHS but was managed by the Council.

 

In response from a statement from Councillor Simon Killane, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor John Thomson stated that recommendations to the Cabinet had taken the views of the Scrutiny Panel into account.

 

Councillor John Thomson, in moving the recommendations, drew the meetings attention to the addendum which amended recommendation xii. He also added his thanks for the hard work of the officers in supporting the review, a sentiment that was widely supported by those in attendance.

 

Resolved

 

To approve the revised Wiltshire Local Transport Plan 2011 – 2026: Car Parking Strategy (Appendix 1) including the following:

 

(i)          Support the concept of setting parking charges on a car-park-by-car-park basis (as per Policy PS3 - Parking Charges) rather than on a ‘banded’ or Wiltshire wide approach (i.e. all towns have the same charges).

 

(ii)        Approve the recommended parking charges (Monday – Sunday) as set out in Appendix 9 for implementation in 2015/16.

 

(iii)      Agree that a full review of parking charges will be undertaken by the Council at approximately five year intervals based on the factors outlined in Policy PS3 and delegates authority to the Associate Director for Highways and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport to undertake any necessary annual interim reviews of parking charges at a car park or town level.

 

(iv)      Note that over 5,000 individuals and organisations responded to, and took part in, the public consultation.

 

(v)        Note the submission of a petition for ‘One hour free parking in Wiltshire Towns’ signed by 3,750 people but agrees that the issue of possible exemptions to charging, including first hour free parking, has been adequately covered in the review.

 

(vi)      Support the approach to implementing new technologies as set out in paragraphs 18 to 24.

 

(vii)    Note that due to the volume of consultation responses received only the majority or main consultation points have been fully considered at this time; the analysis and consideration of more detailed points will be undertaken in liaison with town councils, BIDs and other interested parties during 2015/16.

 

(viii)   Agree the revised proposed approach to season tickets and delegate authority to the Associate Director for Highways and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport to develop and implement the changes.

 

(ix)      Approve the submission of the identified car parks (including Market Place car park in Wilton) to a property asset review and delegates authority to the Associate Director for People and Business in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport and the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Property, Waste and Strategic Housing, to negotiate and agree any resulting legal agreements.

 

(x)        Approve the localism opportunities set out in paragraph 112 and delegate authority to the Associate Director for Highways and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, and with the advice of legal and property services, to negotiate and agree any resulting legal agreements.

 

(xi)      Support the principle of studies being undertaken into coach parking, leisure centre parking, residents’ parking zones, on-street waiting restriction reviews and parking enforcement, and delegate authority to the Associate Director for Highways and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport to develop and implement any changes.

 

(xii)  Note the publication of revised Government parking guidance (see paragraph 138), approves a 15 minute grace period before the issuing of any penalty charge notice for both on-street and off-street parking places provided under traffic orders (where a ticket has been purchased and displayed), and delegates authority to the Associate Director for Highways and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport to revise the Council’s car parking strategy and parking management practices if necessary to accord with the revised guidance.

 

(xii)    Delegate authority to the Associate Director for Highways and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, to finalise the strategy document for publication.

 

Reasons for Decision:

 

To seek agreement to commence implementation of the revised LTP Car Parking Strategy following public consultation.

 

Supporting documents: