Agenda item

Report number AFM190 by the Leader of the Council.        (Enclosure)

Decision:

1.   Council approves the amendments to the South Kesteven Council (Off Street Parking Places) (Pay and Display) Order 2010 to adopt the revised schedule of charges (attached to report number AFM190 at appendix 1) provided no significant level of adverse feedback is received from the public consultation due to be completed on 4 March 2011.

2.   In the event of any adverse comment being received by the 4 March 2011 on completion of the public consultation, delegate the decision whether or not to approve the amendments to South Kesteven District Council (Off-Street Parking Places) (Pay and Display) Order 2010 proposed at recommendation (1) above to the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development.

The Leader of the Council presented report number AFM190 and moved the recommendations within. The Council had begun consultation on the proposal and all feedback received up to the time of the meeting had been positive. Unless any untoward comments were received on Friday 4 March 2011, subject to Council’s agreement, car parking charges in Grantham and Stamford would be reduced. The motion was seconded.

Councillor Hearmon stated he welcomed the initiative but expressed his concern that consultation had begun prior to a decision of Council. The notices advertising the consultation expressed that the charges would decrease from 1 April 2011. He moved an amendment “that the 30 minute charge be abolished and the charge for ‘up to an hour’ be reduced to 50p.” This was seconded. If, following debate, the amendment was approved, the new proposal would be subject to consultation.

Members supporting the amended motion argued that reducing the price of short-stay car parking in South Kesteven would increase the chances of people visiting the town centres and completing their business within the district. They considered this would be of significant import to communities not served by public transport. Members who opposed the amendment felt that it would only encourage people wanting to stay for a short time. Councillor Hearmon clarified that his amendment was to alter the charges for 30 minutes and ‘up to an hour’. The rest of the charges would remain unchanged.

The budgetary impact of the proposal was debated. Members asked what provision had been made in the 2011/12 budget for car parking. The Section 151 Officer confirmed that there was provision within the budget to support the scheme that had initially been proposed. The financial implications of the amendment would need modelling and had not been provided for in the budget. If Members passed the amendment, the finance team would carry out the modelling work and, subject to consultation and an affirmative decision from Council, a revised budget would be required. Those supporting the motion suggested that the Council’s reserves could be used to subsidise any shortfall in car parking income.

The Chief Executive advised that if Members were minded to approve the motion, a further Cabinet decision to restart process of consultation would be required. The Council would need to wait for the consultation period to end before making its decision on whether to adopt the revised charges. Consultation on the revision of parking orders was a statutory requirement.

Before a vote was taken on the amended motion, the Leader was given an opportunity to sum up. The Federation of Small Business stated that parking in the district council’s car parks was cheap. The idea of reducing the car parking charges for all bands was encouraging more people to stay for two or three hours. The proposal had been put together to support businesses in the district. The Council had committed to a fundamental review of fees and charges in 2011/12, and she suggested a review of car parking could include the modelling of these proposals.

15:55                   Councillor Avril Williams left the meeting

There was a request for a recorded vote. However, failing to receive the support of ten Members as per Council Procedure rule 16.4, the request was refused. Having been proposed and seconded, the amended motion “that the 30 minute charge be abolished and the charge for ‘up to an hour’ be reduced to 50p.” was put to the vote and lost.

16:01                   Councillors Jock Kerr and Mrs Gaffigan left the meeting

A vote was then taken on the original motion, which was carried.

16:02-16:22                  Recess