Issue - meetings

To give consideration to the call in of the above decision

The procedure for the Call In of the decision taken on 23 February 2015 relating to the Car Parking Consolidation Order 2015 was circulated to the Committee.

On behalf of the 8 Members who had signed the Call In, Councillor S Hogben addressed the Committee and expanded on the following reasons for the Call In:

·         Inadequate consultation.

·         Relevant information was not considered.

·         Justification for the decision was open to challenge on the basis of the evidence considered.

With regard to the consultation process, Cllr Hogben had previously indicated that he wished to attend a focus group that had been established, to address his concerns regarding Crewe car parks. However, he was not invited to attend any meetings and was unclear as to whether or not any meetings had taken place, therefore, he suggested that the consultation process was flawed.

With regard to car parks in Pedley Street and Railway Street in Crewe, Cllr Hogben suggested that there were cheaper, privately owned car parks that were also in better condition.

He then went onto highlight errors within the covering report and questioned the accuracy of the financial implications, particularly in relation to Christchurch and Crewe Alexandra car parks.

Finally he suggested that car parking charges should remain unchanged until a new Car Parking Strategy had been introduced and parking in the Borough could be looked at in its entirety.

Councillor Topping, Portfolio Holder for Service Commissioning outlined the decision taken on 23 February 2015, referring to the report summary and highlighting the desire for car parking to be cost neutral. This would be achieved through a phased approach and any schemes that were not successful would be reviewed. A Car Parking Strategy would be implemented in the summer of 2015, which the New Delivery Vehicles and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee could be involved in developing.

In response to the suggestion that there had been inadequate consultation, he assured the Committee that all statutory consultation  requirements had taken place and that a focus group was in addition to this. However he was unable to clarify whether or not the focus group had met and apologised for the confusion.

Furthermore, Councillor Topping suggested that, for clarification purposes, he would be willing to amend paragraph 1.2.1 of his report to read ‘this is still cheaper than major recognised non Council owned car parks’.

The Committee considered the report, evidence it had received and response to the Call In and agreed that subject to Councillor Toppings offer to amend the wording of the report, the Committee would offer no advice, therefore the decision could be implemented immediately.

RESOLVED

That in response to the call In, the Committee offers no advice to the Portfolio Holder for Service Commissioning regarding his decision on Car Parking Consolidation Order 2015.

To consider amendments to the proposed Traffic Regulation Order to introduce and consolidate off street parking restrictions.

1.    That approval be given for statutory consultation, amendments to the proposed Cheshire East Borough Council (Off Street Parking Places) (Consolidated) Order 2015 under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984; to introduce and consolidate the off street parking restrictions as set out in points 1 – 6 of the decision notice; and in the event that no objections are received, or where objections are made but withdrawn, to also authorise the making of the Order.

2.    That the Investigations Manager and Interim Parking Services Manager be authorised to implement the Order.

3.    That the impact of the proposed order be measured over a period of 12 months following implementation and be reported back to the Portfolio Holder.

4.    That support be given to continued improvements within the CEO team, and to the development of a parking strategy which will enable a service review and redesign of civil enforcement to provide a more effective service by July 2015.                          

Consideration was given to a staged approach to deliver a more attractive pricing policy in order to improve economic vitality, and to ensure that the needs of the different towns and villages within Cheshire East were reflected.

In 2014 consultations with local businesses, residents, and partnerships, had been carried out regarding proposed changes to pricing policy and to off-street parking orders. As a result of the responses received amendments to the proposed Cheshire East Borough Council (Off Street Parking Places) (Consolidated) Order were now being proposed.

In response to a request from a Local Ward Member to defer the increased charges for long stay car parking in two Council owned car parks by Crewe Railway Station, namely Pedley Street and Railway Street, the Portfolio Holder  responded that it was intended to review the impact of the changes 12 months after implementation; for this reason the introduction would not be delayed.  In addition it was confirmed that the ‘Free after 3.00 pm’ provision would continue but that it did no need to be written into the Order.

It was pointed that Christchurch car park, Crewe no longer existed and it was confirmed that this would be removed from the documentation.

RESOLVED

1.    That approval be given for statutory consultation, amendments to the proposed Cheshire East Borough Council (Off Street Parking Places) (Consolidated) Order 2015 under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984; to introduce and consolidate the off street parking restrictions as set out in points 5-10 below; and in the event that no objections are received, or where objections are made but withdrawn, to also authorise the making of the Order.

2.    That the Investigations Manager and Interim Parking Services Manager be authorised to implement the Order.

3.    That the impact of the proposed order be measured over a period of 12 months following implementation and be reported back to the Portfolio Holder.

4.    That support be given to continued improvements within the CEO team, and to the development of a parking strategy which will enable a service review and redesign of civil enforcement to provide a more effective service by July 2015.

5.    That the charges for long stay parking in two Council owned car parks located by Crewe Railway Station (Pedley Street and Railway Street) be increased as follows: -

6.    That the maximum stay period at the Community Centre Car Park, Disley be amended to 3 hours, and the maximum stay at the South Street Car Park, Alderley Edge, be amended to 4 hours, unless a 3 month or 12 month permit is held and then the max 10 hours will still apply.

7.    That provision be made for the future introduction of electric/plugged in vehicle charging bays and associated infrastructure.

8.    That provision be made for the removal of certain car parks from the control of Cheshire East as various leases have  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17