Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendation.

Councillor Thomas introduced the Review of the Council’s Residents Parking Policy report. It explained that where there was a need for residents to park on street, in the absence of off street parking places, a Resident Parking Scheme could be implemented to allow residents to park in marked bays outside their properties when displaying a valid permit.

                        A report was submitted to Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee in June and it was recommended that the level of local support required to bring a scheme to delivery should be increased from 50% to 75%.  The increased figure had not been included in the revised policy as it was considered extremely unlikely that any proposal would receive that level of response which would result in blocking any schemes being progressed in the future.  In other Councils 50% was the approval level where Residents Parking options were offered to the community.

                        The Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) explained that a Resident Parking Scheme Assessment Matrix was proposed which would prioritise requested schemes for consideration.  This would score relevant aspects of the policy against the need for the scheme and was consistent with the Traffic Regulation Order Assessment Matrix for prioritising traffic restrictions.  Due to increasing requests for Residents Parking Schemes and the cost of staff resources, it was recommended that following the matrix, the three highest scoring Resident Parking Schemes were progressed each financial year.  That was affordable within the current budget.

                        Councillor Attridge asked if schemes would only be progressed if it had the support of the local Town or Community Council.  The Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) explained that any scheme would require the support of the Town or Community Council and schemes would not progress if that support was not given.

                        Councillors Bithell and Roberts spoke in support of the percentage remaining at 50% as raising it to 75% would be unachievable.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the changes to the existing Residents Parking Policy be approved; and

(b)       That the Residents Parking Scheme Assessment Matrix which will be used to prioritise future requests for Residents Parking schemes be approved.