Issue - meetings

This report presents to Cabinet a set of updated proposals in relation to off-street parking in the district.

Purpose of report

A set of updated proposals in relation to off-street parking in the district.

Decision

Cabinet:

1. Reconsidered its draft parking charging tariff proposals for Grantham and Stamford in response to the informal and initial feedback from the public, community groups and other stakeholders and approved the revised proposals set out in Appendix B (as amended).

2. Agreed the following amendments to Appendix B:

·         the charging period for Grantham and Stamford would be 8am-6pm Monday to Saturday

·         the application date of new charges was ‘to be advised’ rather than from April 2025

·         Long stay season tickets for the period Monday to Saturday in Grantham and Stamford would cost £21.50 per week, £75 per month or £200 per quarter and there will be no Monday to Sunday season tickets

3. Withdrew the proposal to introduce evening charging at Grantham and Stamford car parks.

4. Withdrew the proposal to introduce Sunday and Bank Holiday charging at Grantham and Stamford car parks.

5. Approved the introduction of 2 hours free parking in short stay car parks and 3 hours free parking in long stay car parks on Mondays to Wednesdays between 2^nd and 24^th December 2024 in both Grantham & Stamford.

6. Noted that the recommendations of the Capacity Study were supported unanimously by the Finance & Economic Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 20 February 2024 and therefore agreed to:

·         commission a further car parking study six months after the implementation of the new car parking tariffs to assess their impact

·         request officers undertake further work in relation to the future car parking arrangements in Bourne and the Deepings, the parking arrangements for Blue Badge holders, and the future capacity requirements for Grantham and Stamford

7. Request Officers consider proposals to enable enforcement against unauthorised parking in designated play parks and green spaces.

8. Request Officers prepare a policy on the provision of free parking permits and discounted season tickets to nominated persons or organisations.

9. Approved the drafting of the variation to the South Kesteven District Council (Off-Street Parking Places) (Civil Enforcement Order) 2023, with or without amendments, for consultation in accordance with the Local Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996.

10. Delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Property and Public Engagement to review any feedback received following the publication of the intention to vary the car parking tariffs in Grantham and Stamford.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet considered other options at their meeting on 18 January 2024 and this report updated the proposals that had been considered since that time.

Reasons for decisions

The proposals for introducing updated parking charges had been considered and this decision demonstrated the need to ensure that any changes to tariffs met the needs of users and the objectives that had been identified by the Capacity Study whilst ensuring each town’s economic activity continued to thrive.

Parking charges had not increased in the last 2 and a half years during which there had been considerable inflation. Not amending parking charges was not an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40