Agenda item

Final Report of the Parking Task and Finish Group

Minutes:

The Chairman of the Task and Finish Group, Councillor H Drake, submitted a report on the work of a Member Task and Finish Group established to review elements of East Herts District Council parking policy.

 

Councillor H Drake said that the Task and Finish Group had met 7 times and covered 3 of the 4 areas set out in their terms of reference. The last area, regarding parking within planning policy, had not been covered due to time constraints.  Members were advised that input had been received from Ward and Town Councillors and the Business Improvement District (BID).  Councillor H Drake said that contributions had been received from the villages and from representatives of Town and Parish Councillors specifically with regards to residents parking zones.  She stated over 1000 survey responses had been received and these were summarised at Essential Reference Paper ‘C’.  The principal findings and recommendations were summarised in the report and in greater detail in Essential Reference Paper ‘B’.

 

Councillor M Goldspink commented on residents’ parking zones (RPZs) being used by commercial users at certain hours.  The Head of Communications, Strategy and Policy said that the Chantry Lane mixed use scheme allowed business users to park between 8 am and 6 pm.  This zone was not available for business users in the evenings or on Saturdays.

 

Following a further comment from Councillor M Goldspink, the Head of Communications, Strategy and Policy said that the Chantry Lane RPZ had been a trial to see what could be learnt from mixing business users with residential.  The take up had been low partially because of not being able to park on Saturdays but also because annual payments were required upfront which was not easy for many people.

 

The Head of Communications, Strategy and Policy confirmed to Councillor S Bull that the way forward could be to explore the principle of shared usage of residents parking zones on a case by case basis.  He said that whenever a RPZ was considered for implementation, this would always be preceded by a consultation with residents.  He answered a number of other questions from the Committee on mixed use parking schemes.

 

Councillor K Crofton raised the issue of the costs of parking in Station Car Parks.  The Head of Communications, Strategy and Policy said that the Task and Finish Group had recommended that the Council write to rail operators to establish what could be done regarding the costs of station parking and subsequent commuter parking in residential streets, as commuters sought to avoid paying to park.  Councillor H Drake confirmed that the cost of commuter parking was as high as £10 a day in Hertfordshire.

 

Councillor K Crofton said that Hertfordshire County Council did not wish to become an electrical provider by fitting lampposts with car charging facilities.  Councillor J Wyllie commented on whether the power to a lamppost was sufficient to charge up an electric car.

 

Councillor D Hollebon said that the provision of disabled bays was at the 6% level recommended by the Department for Transport.  Councillor I Devonshire said that the benefits of electric cars were being undermined, as for every electric vehicle purchased, 37 Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVS) were purchased.

 

Councillor H Drake moved and Councillor S Bell seconded, a motion that the findings and recommendations of the Task and Finish Group, as detailed in in paragraphs 2.2, 2.3, 2.7, 2.12, 2.16 and 2.17, be noted.

 

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

 

Councillor H Drake moved and Councillor I Devonshire seconded, a motion that the recommendations, as detailed, be supported and that these be forwarded to the Executive and Council as necessary.

 

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

 

Councillor S Bell moved and Councillor H Drake seconded, a motion that the Committee recommends to Council via the Executive the adoption of the modified Resident Permit Zone Policy and Operational Guidance, as detailed in Essential Reference Papers ‘D(i) and (ii)’.

 

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.

 

Councillor D Hollebon moved and Councillor I Devonshire seconded, a motion that the Members support the Task and Finish Group’s recommendations as detailed, and that further scrutiny be undertaken in the areas identified in paragraph 2.18 to this report.

 

After being put to the meeting and a vote taken, this motion was declared CARRIED.  The Executive be advised that Members support the recommendations as detailed, in the report submitted.

 

RESOLVED – that (A) the findings and recommendations of the Task and Finish Group, as detailed in in paragraphs 2.2, 2.3, 2.7, 2.12, 2.16 and 2.17, be noted;

 

(B)   the support of the Committee for these recommendations to the Executive, be confirmed;

 

(C)   the Committee recommends to Council, via the Executive, the adoption of the modified Resident Permit Zone Policy and Operational Guidance, as detailed in Essential Reference Papers ‘D(i) and (ii)’; and

 

(D)   the Committee supports the Group’s recommendation that it be requested to undertake further scrutiny in the areas identified in paragraph 2.18 to this report.

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