To receive a presentation on the proposed consultation and process for Town Delivery Plans and Recovery Plan and scrutinise the consultation/engagement plan for the proposed changes to car parking.
Minutes:
Richard Hibbert, Team Manager for Strategic Infrastructure introduced this item to the Committee.
The Committee heard some background to the proposed consultations that had arisen from the adoption of the Local Transport Plan Strategy (in October 2019) which included a High Level Parking Strategy. The aim of the consultations was to engage with town, communities, Members and stakeholders to inform future direction. The aim of the consultations was to inform 11 delivery plans that flow from that strategy so local stakeholders can then shape that plan.
Richard acknowledged that the consultations were in progress during at a time when there is a challenge to individuals however the mechanisms that would be used would take full account of the challenges of the pandemic.
There was a need to renew the parking strategy across the borough. The 11 delivery plans would have a broad geography with a focus on town centres and access to them with key connections to wider economic areas.
The consultation was being viewed as a chance to get right blend of transport in the right places with integrated transport programmes. Not all would be funded but there was an opportunity to inform future funding bids and bidding opportunities.
Peter Skates, Director of Growth and Enterprise addressed the Committee and advised that given the effects of the pandemic this year, the intention was to approach 9 of the 11 towns at the same time in Phase 1. Focus would be on infrastructure, pedestrian links and if more people are now working from home, this would mean less commuting traffic to conurbations such as Stoke and Manchester.
Wellbeing, lifestyle and mental health would be considered, plus how the public sector could bring in additional funding and encourage private sector funding.
Richard advised the Committee that Car Parking was a fundamental part of any transport plan for any borough.
At Cheshire East, the borough still operated public pay and display car parks that were a legacy from the 3 former councils with little change over last 10 years. This consultation looked to establish an appropriate Cheshire East approach.
Key themes would include:
· The role of car parking and access in town centres;
· The Level of charges across borough and harmonisation;
· Street parking; and
· How the Council Parking service might be further developed.
The Committee saw a range of car parking charges for the first hour of parking from neighbouring authorities, generally it was cheaper in the west, more expensive to the south.
The Committee were then shown a series of key questions that would be integrated as part of the consultation.
The Committee were advised that parking in residential areas as this was a nuisance problem in many areas and this would be something the consultation would address along with the opportunity to comment on provision of electric charging point and cycle parking, and contactless payments.
In terms of communication, this would include:
· hard copy plans in local libraries, and be geographically relevant to the area;
· A series of Microsoft Teams calls with stakeholder groups;
· A web-hosted consultation for each Town Plan with a set of objectives for each town that met all requirements as a means of consultation for diversity; and
· An 11 week consultation period starting early Nov 2020- finish mid Jan 2021. (Not including Christmas period).
The Committee were given the opportunity to ask questions and there was some discussion that included:
· The acknowledgement that those living in towns would have a different experience of consultation and driving into towns than those in rural areas, and therefore parity was needed;
· Promotion of the survey on car parks;
· The possibility of engaging Members with the steering groups for consultation;
· The possibility of an emissions based charging scale to acknowledge bigger vehicles are higher consuming in terms of emissions and promote cleaner vehicles or better choices about when and where to use a vehicle;
· The consultation was not about the proposals, but on the principles at present; and
· The importance of noting that harmonisation did not equate to standardisation.
RESOLVED- That:
a) Richard and Peter be thanked for their attendance and presentation to the Committee;
b) That the presentation be received and noted.