Meeting documents

To consider a report by the Parking and Transport Manager.

Decision

(a)       That a planned maintenance budget be approved for the current year of £100,000, funded by the Corporate Projects Reserve, to enable immediate repairs and upgrades (Appendix 1) that are essential to be carried out within the car parks;

(b)       That £300,000 from the Corporate Projects Reserve be approved for planned specified capital works (Appendix 2) that are necessary to improve the condition and safety of the car parks;

(c)        That the proposals for car parking charges, as set out in Appendix 3, together with the comments made at the Executive Committee be the subject of a consultation exercise with town councils, BID and chambers of commerce;

(d)       That the renegotiation of fees be approved for the management and/or collecting pay & display cash from car parks that this Council does not own.

The committee received a report on the review of the condition of the council’s car parks and the level of investment and charges required in order to upgrade the car parks.

The Leader reported that it was important to consult of the review of car parking charges and he therefore proposed that a consultation exercise take place before any of the charging proposals were implemented.

The following members addressed the committee and made a number of points on the proposals within the report:

Cllr D Rickard asked about the planned improvement work for West Bay and whether the money to be allocated was for just for primary work, and the timescale for getting the car park into even better condition after the initial work. 

Cllr T Farmer expressed his concern regarding the proposed level of charges in the long stay Culverhayes car park and asked the committee to consult on the proposals prior to a decision being taken.

Cllr S Hosford made the following points regarding Dorchester proposals:

·         There was no reference in the report to season ticket holders

·         No mention in the report on what collaboration had been undertaken  with regard to DTEP and the LEP strategic overview

·         The proposals to increase long stay charges would push long stay workers to park in residential areas.

·         Dorchester Town Council would like to see some short stay parking spaces retained in the Top O Town car park, for use by people visiting the nearby businesses

Cllr M Rennie made the following points:

·         The report did not refer to evening or Sunday car parking charges

·         The report proposed removing the 20 minute period as too many parking fines were being received but there are no figures in the report to support this.  Could a 30 minute period be looked at for library and TIC users?

·         Shoppers permits were not mentioned in the report

Cllr R Gould made the following observations:

·         This was an important issue for both residents and workers and for the management of traffic congestion

·         Constructive discussions on parking had been held in Sherborne but the report was disappointing, so a period of consultation would be welcomed with the opportunity to involve Dorset County Council for a joined up strategy

·         There was a need to improve the position for residents and to keep town centres thriving

·         The proposal to undertake a consultation exercise was welcomed
 

The Interim Parking and Transport Manager, Jack Creeber responded to the comments made:

·         West Bay – these were one-off funds to improve the condition of the car parks.  The funding for West Bay would enable the work to be completed, it would not be phased work.

·         Officers were working closely with Dorset County Council.  The DCC study would not be completed for some time but it was important to complete the improvement works in the current financial year

·         Car parking charges were necessary it was therefore a difficult issue to resolve for low paid workers

·         The number of parking fines received for the 20 minute period and an extension to 30 minutes would be looked at and reported back to Cllr M Rennie

·         There was no proposal to change the Shoppers Permit

·         The proposal for Top O Town car park was to enable short stay parking in any part of the car park

In respect of the proposal to cease the 30 minute period in Bridport short stay car parks the Leader of Council suggested that the consultation exercise suggests a period of phasing in of the new charge.  The Leader also expressed his concern for the proposed charge of £6.30 for all day parking in a short stay car park.  There was also inconsistency between the long stay charges for East Beach West Bay and long stay charges at Lyme Regis.  It was therefore necessary to provide options as part of the consultation exercise.  Cllr Gardner also expressed his concern over the significant increases proposed for long stay parking.

Decision

(a)That a planned maintenance budget be approved for the current year of £100,000, funded by the Corporate Projects Reserve, to enable immediate repairs and upgrades (Appendix 1) that are essential to be carried out within the car parks;

(b)That £300,000 from the Corporate Projects Reserve be approved for planned specified capital works (Appendix 2) that are necessary to improve the condition and safety of the car parks;

(c)That the proposals for car parking charges, as set out in Appendix 3, together with the comments made at the Executive Committee be the subject of a consultation exercise with town councils, BID and chambers of commerce;

(d)That the renegotiation of fees be approved for the management and/or collecting pay & display cash from car parks that this Council does not own.