Issue - meetings

Further to Minute 31 (23 August 2011), the Cabinet Member for Crime, Justice and Communities presented a report on proposed changes to the Council’s parking policy and car park charges.

The Cabinet Member explained that the proposals, linked to the Council’s draft Local Implementation Plan (LIP), were aimed at:

·  increasing capacity for short term visitor and shopper car parking in town centres;

·  improving facilities for safe overnight parking;

·  improving accessibility to car parks for vulnerable groups; and

·  promoting the use of more sustainable modes of travel such as cycling or public transport to reduce traffic congestion in the borough.

The report also addressed the points raised at the last meeting during the discussions on the new staff car permit scheme in respect of consultations with Unions, the burden of the new charges on staff, enforcement arrangements, the criteria for Essential Car Users and the proportionality of the new charges in relation to salaries.

Cabinet agreed:-

  (i)  That Parking Charges Orders in respect of the existing public car parks set out in Appendix A, Schedule 1 of the report be varied so as to allow for increased or decreased charges (as the case may be) in accordance with the charging scheme set out in Appendix A, Schedule 1;

  (ii)  That the Council takes steps to establish the new pay and display public car parks identified in Appendix A, Schedule 2 as off street parking places under the Road Traffic Management Act 1984;

 (iii)  That Parking Charges Orders in respect of the proposed new pay and display car parks set out in Appendix A, Schedule 3 be introduced to allow for parking charges to be levied in those car parks; and

 (iv)  That parking should remain free for the public on Sundays in all car parks operated by the Council.