To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor P.J. Edwards (Cabinet Member – Environment) and Councillor G.V. Hyde (Cabinet Member – Economic Development, Markets & Property)

To receive details any details of Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

There were no substitutions.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on the Agenda.

No declarations of interest were made.

To consider the findings of the Parking Strategy Review Group following the review of the County-wide Parking Strategy.

The Committee considered the findings of the Parking Strategy Review Group following the review of the County-wide Parking Strategy.

The Chairman of the Review Group, Councillor J.H.R. Goodwin, reminded the Committee that at its meeting on 21st October, 2003, when the call-in of the Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation) decision on Parking Charges was considered, the Committee recommended to the Cabinet Member that the County-wide Parking Strategy be reviewed.  This recommendation was subsequently endorsed by Cabinet and the Cabinet Member requested that this Committee carry out the review.  On 23rd January, 2004 this Committee formed the Parking Strategy Review Group and approved the terms of reference for the review.

The Chairman of the Review Group took the Committee through the report on a page by page basis and particularly highlighted the following:

a)      The scope of the review was detailed in Annex 1 to the report.  The methodology used in the review was referred to in section 3 and the current Parking Strategy had been attached at Annex 2 to the report.

b)      Details of the consultation techniques employed and the results were contained in a separate document issued to Members – entitled The Consultation Report.

c)      Financial Overview (section 4).  Income from off-street parking (car parks) contributed over £1m to keeping the Council tax lower.  On-street parking enforcement (decriminalised parking) was intended under the Business Plan to be self-financing with any surplus ring-fenced to transport related purposes.  It was appreciated that a balance needed to be struck between the financial worth (income generated) and the strategic worth (long-term benefits of the property within the Council’s property portfolio) of any individual car park. During the course of the review it became apparent that current data collection methods made it difficult to obtain data on each car park notably that administration was charged across the whole service. 

d)      The Review Group’s comments in relation to the key questions raised in the Scoping Statement were detailed in section 5 of the report.

e)      Park & Ride (section 6). From the evidence collected and comments from users concerning the pressure on parking, the Review Group concluded that the Cabinet Member should continue with the ongoing work into the financial and operational viability of a Park and Ride scheme for Hereford.

f)        Policy Linkages (section 7.2) The Review Group agreed with the Policy Linkages identified in the current Strategy.  However, it was highlighted that they should be reviewed or updated, particularly in relation to the Council’s Corporate Plan.

g)      Supply and Quality (section 7.3). From evidence received the Review Group concluded that car parks in central Hereford were effectively full.  Parking issues may also arise as a consequence of changes to the Government’s Planning Policy & Guidance concerning new planning development.  Evidence also indicated that car parks should be safe, well signed, attractive, easy to use and well maintained.

h)      A new Local Transport Plan, of which the Parking Strategy forms a part, was currently being prepared.

i)        Charging (section 7.5).  The Review Group agreed that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.