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 – 43 Minutes

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 reporting pack was in use at Hertfordshire County Council.

The following Members asked questions:

· Councillor Judi Billing;

· Councillor Simon Harwood;

· Councillor Kay Tart;

· Councillor Paul Clark;

· Councillor Richard Thake;

· Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb;

· Councillor Ian Albert;

· Councillor Sam Collins;

· Councillor Keith Hoskins; and

· Councillor Val Bryant.

Points and questions raised by Members were as follows:

· Ways in which the Parking Reporting Pack would be publicised to the public;

· Concerns over selling of non-resident permits;

· The importance of improving signage and traffic flows at the Lairage multi-storey;

· Concerns over cashless parking;

· Charging for parking at weekends, evenings and on Bank Holidays and the affect that this may have on the economy of the town;

· The time limit imposed on on-street parking and the possibility of increasing this especially on Hermitage Road;

· Implementing residential Electric-Vehicle charging points;

· What would happen after a member of public had reported a parking issue;

· The need to increase public transport services after a certain time especially in the evening;

· Concerns over the requirement to keep a log of the parking issue for four weeks;

· Fines should be proportionate to the parking offence;

· It was important that there was a district-wide consultation on the potential possibility of charging weekends, evenings and on Bank Holidays and;

· The Committee believed that a fundamental principle was ensuring that they helped local economic vibrancy and supported the night time economy.

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

· The relevant officers were looking at ways to communicate the Parking Reporting Pack to members of public;

· The aim of the Parking Reporting Pack was to empower the public in reporting parking issues;

· The take-up of permits within Controlled Parking Zones remained low;

· Controlled Parking Zones had been in place across the District for several years;

· Controlled Parking Zones worked well in areas situated near train stations or town centres;

· Withdrawing Controlled Parking Zones could lead to problems re-emerging that had previously been resolved by a CPZ;

· Changes to the charging period would require consultation with relevant stakeholders;

· Members of the public would like to see cashless parking;

· The document was flexible and allowed for amendments when necessary;

· The document could be simplified depending on the parking issue and its severity;

· There was a potential to make the parking reporting pack digital;

· Members could email the Parking Projects Officer with any comments they had in relation to the document.

RESOLVED: