To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors G.W. Davis and T.W. Hunt.

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

Councillor H Bramer substituted for Councillor T.W. Hunt and Councillor D.C. Taylor for G.W. Davis.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider the Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation) decision on revised Car Parking Charges for car parks across the county, in accordance with the countywide parking strategy, which has been called in by three Members of the Committee.

The Committee considered the decision of the Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation) made on 9th October, 2003 on revised car parking charges for car parks across the County, in accordance with the Countywide Car Parking Strategy, which had been called-in by three Members of the Committee in compliance with the Scrutiny Committee Rules.

The stated reason for the call-in was “concern at the impact the proposed car-parking charges could have on the future economic viability of our Market Towns”.

The report to the Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation) on 2ndOctober 2003 on the issue and the Decision Notice was enclosed with the agenda papers.  A copy of the Countywide Car parking Strategy was also appended.  Shortly after despatch of the papers it been discovered that this version of the Strategy was not the final one, a copy of which had accordingly then been circulated to Members of the Committee.

Additional correspondence provided by the Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation) had also been circulated as a separate document.  This included letters from Hereford City Council, Kington Town Council, Leominster Town Council, Monkland and Stretford Parish Council and Councillor H Bramer in relation to Ross-on-Wye.

The report set out the reasons for the proposed changes to car park charges and a schedule showing the revised charges was appended to the report.

The Chairman invited the Cabinet Member and the Director of Environment to make short statements informing the Committee of any additional matters not set out in the report which they considered relevant.

The Cabinet Member commented on the background to the development of the car-parking strategy and noted that charges had not been reviewed since 2001.

The Director of Environment advised that the Strategy had been developed by an Officer and Member Working Group representing all parts of the County.  The Strategy addressed the findings of a District Audit report by linking car parking policy to transportation and other policy aims of the Council as set out on page 2 of the Strategy.  He reminded the Committee of the contribution income from car parking charges made to the Council’s budget and the financial implications of any recommendations it might choose to make.

The Cabinet Member emphasised that the proposals he had made arising from the annual review were in line with the Strategy. As a Unitary Authority there was a wish to achieve a unified approach across the County.  He added that he was disappointed not to have received any representations when the Forward Plan had been issued.  When he had undertaken consultation more recently he had received representations requesting free car parking in certain locations.

He reminded the Committee of the costs associated with maintaining car-parks, which also had to be taken into account when setting charges.  Whilst recognising the differences in the characteristics of the market towns he had sought to devise an equitable solution.

He was not prepared to discuss the Strategy within the context of the car park charges review although consideration could be given to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.