Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Director of Economy, Transport and Environment regarding the County Council’s proposals aimed at modernising the on-street parking service across Hampshire as part of the Transformation to 2019 Parking Project. The report seeks approval for a number of changes to the way services are currently provided to ensure on-street parking services are delivered more consistently and on a full cost recovery basis across Hampshire.

To pre-scrutinise a report regarding the on-street parking service, prior to decision by the Executive Member for Environment and Transport in the afternoon.

The Select Committee received a report and supporting presentation on behalf of the Director of Economy Transport & Environment, regarding the on-street parking service (see Item 8 in the Minute Book). The report was due to be considered by the Executive Member for Environment and Transport at his decision day later that day.

Cllr Jan Warwick left the room for this item, as per her declaration of a personal interest in relation to this item. Other Members present remained in the meeting for this item.

Members heard that:

·         The Executive Member had previously approved to terminate the existing parking enforcement arrangements with the district/borough/city councils, which would mean this responsibility would return to the County Council from April 2020. This established the principle of managing on street parking at County level. The County Council, as highway authority, was ultimately responsible for on-street parking

·         This report proposed that when the county undertakes this service it would do so on a full cost recovery basis, and also to establish the principle of introducing pilot on-street electric vehicle (EV) charging bays

·         At present costs for on-street parking and levels of enforcement were variable across Hampshire

·         The County Council would work with those districts/boroughs/cities that wished to continue to deliver the service, or would take this on if they chose not to. In such cases the County Council was likely to outsource provision of the service as it did not have the capacity in house.

Members commented:

·         A Member from Winchester noted that in Winchester on-street parking demand was managed by requiring new developments to provide off street parking. Officers indicated that such arrangements could be accommodated in new agreements negotiated with districts that were interested in continuing to deliver the on-street parking service themselves.

·         Some Members expressed concern that operating the scheme at county level reduced the opportunity for local priorities, for example to allow free parking in town centres to support the local economy

·         If the fee for on-street parking permits was due to increase, care needed to be taken in how this was implemented to reduce the impact

·         Demand for controlled parking zones changed over time, as parking patterns change as new zones are implemented. Officers acknowledged this and indicated they would work closely with district colleagues with local knowledge on such issues.

The Chairman proposed the recommendation as in the cover report, which was carried with seven in favour and three against.

RECOMMENDED:

The Economy, Transport and Environment Select Committee support the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Member for Environment and Transport as set out in the T19 Modernisation of the On-Street Parking Service report.