Decision details

[During this item Cllr Chace declared a Personal Interest as Chairman of Friends of Brookfield Park]

Upon the invitation of the Chair, the Customer & Parking Services Manager introduced his report to the Committee. He explained that each year the Council was required to review it’s discretionary charges, which included parking charges. The report identified a set of proposed increases in parking charges plus a proposal to introduce charges in a number of car parks that currently had no charging regime. He clarified that 5.2 in the report, which stated that parking for the first hour in the car parks in which they propose to introduce charging, would be free, this would be the case with regard to Bersted Brooks and Brookfield Park, but in the case of Links Avenue, Grassmere and Shrubbs Field this would in fact be 2 hours free parking as shown on Appendix A. He also clarified that where it said ‘estimated income’ on Appendix A, it should actually refer to ‘additional estimated income’. After completing the consultation, a report would be brought back to the Committee in March, for Members to make a decision on the charges.

            Members then took part in a full debate where the following points were raised:

·         It was right to put this out for consultation and encourage members of the community to provide thoughts on the direction they thought the Council should take.

·         It was asked whether it would be explained in the consultation documents what the income from the increase in charges would be used for. The Group Head of Neighbourhoods explained that this could be promoted across the Council’s social media platforms.

·         It was asked whether Friends of Bersted Brooks should be added to the list of consultees. The Customer & Parking Services Manager confirmed the Friends of Bersted Brooks would be added.

Councillor Chace declared a personal interest as Chairman of Friends of Brookfield Park. He asked that Friends of Brookfield Park also be added to the list of consultees.

The recommendation was Proposed by Councillor Andy Cooper and Seconded by Councillor Chace.

The Committee

            RESOLVED

That the proposed charges as set out in Appendix A be put out for consultation after which a report will be returned to Committee for final approval.