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;

(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 – 5 Minutes

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 reporting pack was in use at Hertfordshire County Council.

The following Members asked questions:

· Councillor Carol Stanier;

· Councillor Tony Hunter;

· Councillor Gerald Morris; and

· Councillor Ruth Brown.

Points and questions raised by Members and Hertfordshire County Councillor, Fiona Hill, were as follows:

· Whether keeping the log of parking issues over a four week period could be reduce to two weeks;

· Whether an introductory note could be added to the Parking Reporting Pack in order to provide members of the public with an explanation of what they should and should not expect from the reporting pack;

· Whether a contact number could be added to the reporting pack to enable members of the public to contact the department in case there was a need for clarification or explanation;

· It was a good initiative to sell non-resident permits especially on streets such as Victoria Crescent, Baldock Street and London Road or streets that were situated near the train station;

· Existing zones could be extended to incorporate nearby roads not covered;

· The added financial cost of Parking Enforcement Officers working at weekends, evenings and Bank Holidays as a result of the proposed changes to the charging period would negate any benefit;

· Charging for parking at weekends, evenings and on Bank Holidays would have a negative effect and exasperate existing problems on residential roads;

· The possibility of implementing dedicated parking in the town centre for residents living in properties without parking;

· In relation to item 8 under Policy 2 on page 44 of the report, users of Council car parks in Royston were, at present, not required to take and display a Pay and Display ticket during the ‘Free after 3pm’ period;

· Each town and each individual car park was different and this should be respected when considering charges; and

· There was support for the positive environmental proposals i.e. sustainability.

In response to questions and points raised by Members, the Strategic Infrastructure & Projects Manager provided the following:

· Residents could work together to gather evidence of the parking issue;

· The Parking Reporting Pack would provide the department with data and evidence in order that the team could decipher what was a genuine parking issue, affecting more than one resident;

· The Parking Reporting Pack would be trialled to see its advantages and disadvantages;

· The aim of consulting Area Committees was to obtain comments from Members in order that any necessary changes could be made before submitting it the draft to Cabinet;

· The document was due to go to Cabinet in March 2020;

· The document suggested District-wide proposals;

· Anything that was or had been proposed would require consultation;

· At present, during the ‘Free after 3pm’ period, there was no data on car park usage as users did not need to take and display ticket;

· The consultation period would end in the middle of February 2020 to allow for the team to collate comments. Further comments could be summited by email; the deadline of which was 15 February 2020; and

· Hertfordshire County Council and town/parish councils and Members would be included in the consultation.