Issue - meetings

Report number DCS14 by the Director of Community Services.  (attached)

DECISION:

(1)    To identify Option Two – Retention of Watergate Car Park, Sale of East Street and Development of Welham Street Car Park – as the preferred option at this moment in time;

(2)    To authorise officers to undertake further work to establish the feasibility of constructing a multi-storey car park on the Welham Street site.  This work to include the commissioning of a Traffic Impact Assessment site examination and, if favourable, the submission of a planning application for the scheme;

(3)    To await a further report to the July meeting of the Cabinet to consider the results of the feasibility study;

(4)    To note that if option two cannot be delivered, reconsideration would have to be given to Option One or any alternative project that may come forward.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)     Report number DCS14 by the Director of Community Services summarising the two options currently available to address the future car parking needs of the town, the costings and financing of each option, and the contributions each option would make to the development of Grantham as a sub-regional centre;

(2)     The issues of uncertainty surrounding Option Two which are currently based on preliminary designs and would be subject to planning permission involving a traffic impact assessment.  Such a study, together with a fully worked up design and costings could be prepared for the Cabinet to consider in July;

(3)     Option Two was the favoured option of the Environment DSP during the pre-decision scrutiny process;

(4)     The Cabinet aggress that Option Two has the potential to deliver more outcomes that support Grantham as a sub-regional centre, particularly in that part of the town and could be linked in with the development of the Grantham Canal Basin.  Option Two also addresses some of the concerns expressed by the public over the use of the Watergate site;

(5)     The Cabinet acknowledges the support from Henry Boot Developments who are willing to work with the council on whichever scheme is finally selected.