Agenda item - NHDC PARKING STRATEGY DRAFT PARKING OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – REGULATORY

To consider the detail on how the Council proposes to implement the policy framework set out in the adopted North Hertfordshire District Council Parking Strategy 2019-2031.

RESOLVED:

(1) That the Draft North Hertfordshire District Council Parking Operational Guidelines at Appendix A of the report be noted;

(2) That the Draft North Hertfordshire District Council Parking Issues Reporting Pack 1 and Part 2 at Appendix B and C of the report be noted.

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET:

(1) That the Draft North Hertfordshire District Council Parking Operational Guidelines at Appendix A be considered and adopted, subject to the following amendments:

· The deletion of point 7 on page 42 of the report as the resourcing cost was covered in point 5 on page 42 of the report;

· The deletion of ‘and at least once during the life of NHDC parking strategy’ under Policy 5 – Off-street Car Park Tariff Reviews on page 42;

· Add ‘if required’ to the end of point 3 on page 42 of the report.

(2) That the Draft North Hertfordshire District Council Parking Issues Reporting Pack 1 and Part 2 at Appendix B and C be considered and adopted;

(3) That delegated authority be given to Service Director - Regulatory to approve minor amendments and format changes to the draft Parking Operational Guidelines as required in consultation with the Executive Member and Deputy for Planning and Transport;

(4) That officers proceed with the work associated with the key projects listed in the Parking Strategy Strategic Action Plan using the Parking Operational Guidelines to implement the policy framework.

REASON FOR DECISIONS: The draft Parking Operational Guidelines will provide the necessary guidance and assessment criteria for the Parking Strategy policy framework for managing parking across the District in a most cost efficient way that accords with the Council’s Corporate Objectives and its Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Audio Recording – 17 Minutes 40 Seconds

The Parking Projects Officer and the Strategic Infrastructure & Projects Manager presented the report entitled NHDC Parking Strategy Draft Parking Operational Guidelines and advised the following:

· The North Hertfordshire District Council Parking Strategy 2019-2031 was approved in January 2019;

· New opportunities to manage the parking stock across the District and generate additional income has been included in the draft Parking Operational Guidelines, which included;

· Other Services in Council Car Parks;

· Charging for On-Street Parking;

· Employee Parking Schemes and;

· Sale of Permits to Non-Residents in Controlled Parking Zones.

· The North Hertfordshire District Council Parking Operational Guidelines document should be read alongside the Parking Strategy;

· It was important that the Parking Operational Guidelines remained a living document in order to ensure it provided a flexible approach to emerging issues;

· The Parking Issues Reporting Pack allowed members of the public to report parking issues;

· The Reporting Pack sought to educate members of the public on parking related issues and different types of parking controls;

· Applicants must keep a log of parking issues over a four week period in order to allow for the severity to be assessed;

· 80% of residents must agree with the parking issue and;

· A similar report pack was in use at Hertfordshire County Council.

The following Members asked questions:

· Councillor Claire Strong;

· Councillor Faye Frost;

· Councillor John Bishop and;

· Councillor George Davies.

Points raised by Members were as follows:

· The cost of a replacement permit;

· The Lairage multi-storey car park in Hitchin bay monitoring system proposal;

· Income generated by Penalty Charge Notices from off-street parking;

· Car sharing incentives and;

· Advancements in technology in order to help Parking Enforcement Officers know the time a vehicle parked.

The Parking Projects Officer and the Strategic Infrastructure & Project Manager provided the following responses to questions and points raised by Members:

· Councillors and members of the public had reported the issue of motorists having no way of knowing whether parking spaces were available in lower levels at the Lairage multi-storey car park in Hitchin; a bay monitoring system or some form of electronic signage to inform drivers in advance, was given as an example as a way of addressing that problem;

· There was no cost to a replacement permit at present, and the draft Guidelines were looking to introduce this;

· More Penalty Charge Notices were issued to vehicles parked on street parking compared to off-street parking;

· Implementing technology such as Induction Software was being looked into. However, there was a huge cost associated to that work;

· Car sharing incentives were being looked into under the Electric Vehicle Strategy and;

· Ways in which to promote and publicise the Parking Reporting Pack were being considered.