Issue - meetings

That, subject to paragraph 2.5 of the report, to approve the list of car parks to be subject to control and charging and to agree the scale of parking charges, as set out in the report.

Members gave consideration to the principle of introducing car parking control and charging on a number of public car parks within the area of the former Congleton Borough. This was to be in advance of securing civil enforcement powers under the Traffic Management Act 2004 for both on and off street parking, which was expected to receive Department for Transport (DfT) approval by the end of September 2009. The aim was to ensure a uniform approach to car park management and control throughout Cheshire East.

Off street parking in the former Congleton Borough area was currently uncontrolled and free of charge. Car park operational and maintenance costs were therefore borne by the Council Tax payer as a whole rather than the user of the facility. On-street enforcement in Congleton was currently the responsibility of the Police although this was not a high priority area of work for them and would remain an anomaly within Cheshire East until civil enforcement powers were adopted in that area.

The proposal would bring parking control into line with the Council’s Parking Strategy as approved by Cabinet on 21 April 2009. 

Before considering the matter further, Members agreed to consider the legal implications set out in Item 17.