Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils
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Agenda item

Cabinet Member for Environment

Decision:

It was RESOLVED: -

 

1.1          That the start of the formulation of Babergh and Mid Suffolk’s first parking strategy beagreed.

 

1.2          That funding of £20,500 for Babergh’s contribution towards the formulation of the parking strategy, from the Babergh Parking Budget, beapproved.

 

Reason for Decision: -

 

To ensure the best possible outcomes for our communities, for both on-street and off-street parking, by looking ahead and working in collaboration with key stakeholders.

 

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected: To continue without a parking strategy – this option is not recommended due to the clear need for a joined-up strategy that looks at all elements of parking; everything fromon-street andoff-street, throughto theeconomic, environmental,and community impacts.

 

Any Declarations of Interests Declared: None

 

Any Dispensation Granted: None

Minutes:

Note: The meeting was adjourned between 11:31am and 11:43 am.

 

37.1          The Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Malvisi, introduced the report, and outlined the reasons for the creation of a Parking Strategy for Babergh District.

 

37.2          Councillor Malvisi proposed the recommendations in the report. This was seconded by Councillor Osborne.

 

37.3          In a response to Councillor Arthey’s question regarding data gathering for the installation of electrical vehicle charging points in Stage 1, the Assistant Director for Environment and Commercial Partnerships assured Members that electrical vehicle charging, and super-fast charging points would be included at this stage.

 

37.4          Councillor Davis questioned the need to spend funding to create a parking policy, when a national Parking Policy and parking guidelines already existed.  Some parking arrangements were under Suffolk County Council and others were for the individual towns to decide. In addition, car parking charges had already been established.

 

37.5          The Cabinet Member for Environment responded that the car parks were owned by Babergh District Council, and valid data was required to make the necessary updates.

 

37.6          The Assistant Director for Environment and Commercial Partnerships advised Members that the purpose of the Strategy was to make a commitment to considered options for what could be undertaken for parking in the district based on evidence. Currently it was only possible to make assumptions.

 

37.7          In response to a question from Councillor Osborne regarding residents parking permits, the Assistant Director for Environment and Commercial Partnerships advised Members that the open consultation would enable residents to voice their concerns and that this information would be valuable to form the Strategy.

 

37.8          Councillor Busby queried why the funding was charged to the Transformation Fund and not to the Babergh Parking Budget, to which the Assistant Director for Environment and Commercial Partnerships responded that this was based on the advice she had received. 

 

37.9          Councillor McLaren queried how the Parking Strategy would assess parking on grass verges and how work would be undertaken to engage with the Planning Committee. In addition, she also queried how the Council could influence motorist’s behaviours in relation to responsible parking.

 

37.10      The Assistant Director for Environment and Commercial Partnerships stated that this was a high-level parking strategy, and that the open consultation would provide further information regarding parking on grass verges. The data collected from the consultation would provide evidence to address the demands and opportunities of parking in the District.

 

37.11      Members debated the issues including the responsibilities of Suffolk County Council for on-street parking and parking on grass verges, and that parking in towns and rural areas was a problem for visitors and residents and impacted on the quality of lives.

 

37.12      Councillor Ward clarified what was not included in the Parking Strategy, and that the parking strategy was necessary to develop a parking policy going forward to address the current parking issues.

 

37.13      In response to Councillor Athey’s comment that the cost of developing the parking strategy should be charged to the parking budget, Councillor Ward explained that the Councils’ car parks were making a loss, but that there was money in the Transformation fund to cover the costs of the funding contribution towards the Parking Strategy.

 

37.14      Councillor Busby was concerned regarding what the Parking Strategy would be delivering, and that residents would have to pay for residents parking permits. He thought that parking charges should form part of the Strategy.

 

37.15      Councillor Ward proposed an amendment to recommendation 3.2:

 

That funding of £20,500 for Babergh’s contribution towards the formulation of the parking strategy, from the Babergh Parking Budget, beapproved.

 

37.16      This was approved by Councillor Malvisi, the proposer, and Councillor Osborne, the seconder.

 

It was RESOLVED: -

 

1.1           That the start of the formulation of Babergh and Mid Suffolk’s first parking strategy beagreed.

 

1.2           That funding of £20,500 for Babergh’s contribution towards the formulation of the parking strategy, from the Babergh Parking Budget, beapproved.

 

Reason for Decision:

 

To ensure the best possible outcomes for our communities, for both on-street and off-street parking, by looking ahead and working in collaboration with key stakeholders.

 

 

Supporting documents: