Issue - meetings

A report seeking variation of the Off Street Parking Places Order.

The Scrutiny Commission at its meeting on 1 February gave consideration to this item. An extract from the minutes of that meeting is attached.

Addendum to report:

An addition to the table in paragraph 3.9 of the report (page 191 of the agenda pack) showing pay and display charges requested by Market Bosworth Parish Council:

NB This change is already shown in the schedule.

Council received a report which sought to vary the Off Street Parking Places Order.

Some members felt that this report was premature and should have been presented along with the car parks action plan which was scheduled for the next meeting. It was highlighted that parking was an emotive issue, particularly within Hinckley town centre. Concern was expressed that Leicestershire County Council would introduce on street parking charges in the future, which would further exacerbate the problems.

The introduction of card (including contactless) payments was welcomed.

It was moved by Councillor Ladkin and seconded by Councillor Hall that the recommendations within the report be approved.

Councillor Bray, along with seven other councillors, requested that voting on the motion be recorded. The vote was taken as follows:

Councillors Allen, Bessant, Boothby, Camamile, Hall, Ladkin, MacDonald, Morrell, Nickerson, Roberts, Smith, Surtees, Sutton, Wallace, Ward and Williams voted FOR the motion (16);

Councillors Bill, Bray, Cartwright, Crooks, Hodgkins, Hollick, Kirby, Lynch, Nichols, Taylor and Witherford voted AGAINST the motion (11);

Councillors Lay and O’Shea abstained from voting.

The motion was therefore declared CARRIED and it was

RESOLVED –

(i)            The proposed variation to the Off Street Parking Places (Hinckley and Bosworth) Order 2014 be approved;

(ii)           Authority be delegated to the Head of Street Scene Services to publish a notice of proposals in relation to the Off Street Parking Places (Hinckley and Bosworth) Order 2014;

(iii)          Subject to there being no objections received within the relevant statutory period, authority be delegated to the Head of Street Scene Services to make the Order and publish the notice of making;

(iv)         Where objections are received, a written report be produced by the Head of Street Scene Services detailing the objections and that authority be delegated to the Director (Environment & Planning) and the Executive member with responsibility for car parks, in conjunction with the Legal Services Manager, to consider such objections and make a decision on the making of the Order.

Report seeking to vary the Off Street Parking Places Order.

The Scrutiny Commission gave consideration to a report which recommended varying the Off Street Parking Places Order following an independent study of car park usage.

The introduction of card payment (including contactless) facilities was welcomed but the importance of ensuring machines were easy to use was noted.

Councillor Bray wished it to be noted that he objected to the recommendation within the report and made the following points:

·         Car parking was a major issue amongst the public

·         Any increase in car parking charges would push more people to park on street, exacerbating inconvenience to residents

·         Whilst an additional 10p would not affect visitors to the town or occasional car park users, for those working in the town centre every day the increase would have a greater impact

·         The increase in the cost of residents permits would affect those residents who already struggled to park near their homes

·         Whilst it was noted that New Street car park was very busy, it was suggested that this was because it was a free car park, and any imposition of a charge (in light of the per month charge proposed) would increase on street parking and reduce use of the car park, again exacerbating the situation for residents

·         Increasing charges for council car parks would put additional pressure on Sainsbury’s car park and, as a result, further increase traffic in that area

·         Paragraph 8.3 referred to ward councillors having had the opportunity to discuss the changes to the residents parking permits, yet the invitation to discuss had not been convenient for those that work and was not flexible and, as a result, he had not been able to engage in the discussion. He emphasised that it had been agreed that member meetings would be held at 6.30pm and that HBBC had always been supportive of councillors that were in full time employment, so this was disappointing.

Reference was made to a report scheduled for the Scrutiny Commission on 22 March on the car parks action plan, and it was suggested that the action plan and the report before members at this meeting should be brought together and in order to achieve this, this report should be deferred. In response, officers advised that this report needed to go to Council on 22 February as it was linked to the budget reports.

RESOLVED – the reservations raised be noted and submitted to Council and a further report on the town centre car parks be welcomed.