Cabinet Member for Environment.
Decision:
It was RESOLVED: -
1.1 Note the background evidence reports provided to support the new parking strategy.
1.2 Approve the new parking strategy for Babergh and its proposed recommendations, accepting that some recommendations may require full business cases to be approved by Cabinet at a later date.
1.3 Agree delegated authority for the Director of Economic Growth and Climate Change in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment to deliver proposed recommendations through the creation of a focused implementation plan, subject to any business case approvals required as part of 3.2 above.
REASON FOR DECISION
To set out the councils’ ambitions for parking for the short, medium and long term, by helping to shape the future growth of the district, enhance the quality of the local environment, and provide a prospectus for investment.
Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:
To continue without a parking strategy – this option was not taken up due to the previous Cabinet decision in August 2021 to pursue a clear and joined-up parking strategy that looks at all elements of parking which is everything from on-street and off-street, through to the economic, environmental, and community impacts.
Any Declarations of Interests Declared: None
Any Dispensation Granted: None
Minutes:
53.1 The Chair, Councillor Ward introduced the report, as the Cabinet Member for Environment had forwarded her apologies for the meeting.
53.2 Councillor Ward moved recommendations 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3, as detailed in the report, which was seconded by the Cabinet Member for Customers, Digital Transformation and Improvements, Councillor McCraw.
53.3 Councillor Osborne raised the issues surrounding the relocation of the lorry park in Sudbury and that this needed to be addressed. She also stated that parking on open spaces and verges were ongoing problems.
53.4 The Director for Economic Growth and Climate Change responded that to address the immediate issues for lorry parking, meetings were being set up with Suffolk County Council (SCC) to address these issues.
53.5 The Parking Service Manager advised Members that SCC was reviewed lorry parking across the County, which would lead to further work being undertaken in this matter between the two Councils. SCC would keep the Council informed of any progress made on their behalf.
53.6 The Service Improvement Advisor addressed the questions relating to parking on Open Space land and advised Members that the Strategy summery had been updated and further work would be undertaken with parish, town councils and members to identify problem areas across the District for the Implementation Plan.
53.7 Councillor McLaren queried whether the Virtual High Street had impacted on the foot fall in the high street. The Director for Economic Growth and Climate Change responded that as the Virtual High Street was a complementary enterprise, she did not anticipate that the Virtual High Street would have an impact on parking spaces in Sudbury and Hadleigh.
53.8 In response to Councillors’ questions, the Director for Economic Growth and Environment advised that the Strategy would not update every year. However, the Implementation Plan would be the next stage, and this would be a working document consisting of both small and easily implemented projects and bigger projects, which would require further consideration. The Parking Strategy was required now and was prepared on the evidence which was collected from a vast number of sources.
53.9 Adam Bunce from 2020 Consultancy, detailed how the data had been collected both during and after the Covid pandemic and how this data was analysed. In addition, he responded to further questions relating to parking on verges, which he stated was a relatively easy to determine and mitigate.
53.10 The Service Improvement Advisor informed Members that the Parking strategy was interlinked with the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) and other strategies for walking, cycling, coach parking, car clubs, parking for motorcycle and bikes.
53.11 In response to Members’ questions relating to planning, the Director for Economic Growth and Environment advised that the Parking Strategy would be applied to planning application similarly to the LCWIP.
53.12 During the debated Members considered the issues relating to the Parking Strategy including alternative uses of the car parking areas, that parking on opens spaces need to be addressed, the Implementation Plan and whether implementation of the Parking Strategy would be cost neutral or an income generation to the Council.
It was RESOLVED: -
1.1 That the background evidence reports provided to support the new parking strategy be noted.
1.2 That the new parking strategy for Babergh and its proposed recommendations, accepting that some recommendations may require full business cases to be approved by Cabinet at a later date be approved.
1.3 That delegated authority for the Director of Economic Growth and Climate Change in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment to deliver proposed recommendations through the creation of a focused implementation plan, subject to any business case approvals required as part of 1.2 above be approved.
Supporting documents: