Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Executive.

Members received a report on car parking in Hinckley town centre. It was moved by Councillor Ladkin, seconded by Councillor Hall and

RESOLVED – the recommendation contained in the report be approved.

At the invitation of the Chairman, representatives of businesses in the town centre will be in attendance as witnesses.

This item was brought to the Scrutiny Commission following consideration of a petition at Council on 27 July which asked the authority to purchase the Co-op car park. Council had requested consideration of the matter by the Scrutiny Commission prior to a report being brought to Council on 6 September. Rosemary Wright, Chairman of the Chamber of Trade, and Carl Brooks, owner of a business in upper Castle Street, were in attendance at the invitation of the Chairman as witnesses.

Having heard the representations of Mrs Wright and Mr Brooks, it was proposed by Councillor Bray and seconded by Councillor Bill that the Council be recommended to purchase the Co-op site in order to support businesses and shoppers. Upon being put to the vote, the motion was carried and it was therefore

RESOLVED – Council be RECOMMENDED to seek to gain ownership of the Co-op site at the earliest opportunity, on the best possible terms, in order to secure car parking capacity in the upper Castle Street and surrounding area to support the traders and businesses located there.