Agenda item

The Cabinet is requested to consider the agenda report and its two appendices and make the following resolution:

Having considered the Consultation Document relating to the Chichester Proposed Parking Management Plan, Cabinet agrees the response as set out within Appendix 1 to the report.

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET

1.     That having considered the consultation document relating to the Chichester proposed Parking Management Plan the response to WSCC set out within appendix one be agreed.

2.     That the Cabinet delegates authorityto the Divisional Manager of Place to add any minor amendments to appendix one after consultation with the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Growth and Place.

Mr Dignum introduced the report.  Mrs Murphy was also present.  Mr Dignum explained that the WSCC Parking Management Plan includes the whole of the city and extends to parts of Donnington, Fishbourne and Westhampnett.  The Plan aims to address issues of unmanaged on-street parking.  Mr Dignum outlined a number of the city’s parking related problems as follows:

·       Commuters take up residents parking spaces.

·       Cars park in a dangerous manner on both sides of some roads and at the corner of roads.

·       The number of spaces for community shops, doctors and schools is inadequate.

Mr Dignum explained that past policy of incrementally extending parking zones has pushed the problem further out.  He confirmed that WSCC propose a solution of parking zones across all adopted highways in the city excluding the unadopted roads such as those at Graylingwell Park and Rousillon Park.  If implemented residents, visitors and commuters would be required to pay a fee for a permit.

Mr Dignum explained that there had been a mixed reaction to the proposals. Mrs Murphy confirmed that approximately 600 responses had been received to date.

Mrs Murphy then explained the coding of the map shown in the agenda pack.  She confirmed that the existing zones are shown in orange, private estates (not included in the proposal) are yellow and the proposed new zones are blue.  She clarified that the council is a consultee in the consultation process and WSCC have held a number of events for stakeholders and run an online consultation.  She confirmed that she had discussed the proposals with the council’s Civil Enforcement Officers, notice processing team, planning team and environmental strategy team.

Mrs Murphy then explained that the council has an agency agreement with WSCC to carry out enforcement and administration on behalf of WSCC.  At this stage WSCC have indicated that if the parking zones are extended they would like the council’s agency agreement to be extended to cover those areas.  Mrs Murphy confirmed that the council would need to ensure it has sufficient resources to be able to cover the extended areas.

Mrs Murphy added that the proposal had also been discussed at the Chichester District Council Parking Forum who had provided the following feedback to be included in the council’s response to the proposal:

·       Residents will need to receive a sufficient number of permits (a suggested minimum two per household) before they are made available to commuters.

·       Careful consideration should be given to houses of multiple occupancy.

·       The commencement of the statutory consultation period should be delayed to September rather than July to avoid the summer holiday period when many residents will be away.

·       Where no parking issues have been identified in a zone it should be considered for removal from the scheme.

Additional comments were also put forward for inclusion in the response to the consultation:

·       Adequate parking needs to be provided for schools to accommodate parents drop off, pick up, assemblies and events and parking for school staff.

·       Consideration should be given to the opportunity to merge zones where permit capacity could be an issue.

The Cabinet also suggested some additional points of feedback:

·       The council’s response should use specific examples of roads where zones could be merged.

·       Consideration should be given to the adverse effect on small businesses based on the outskirts on the city where there is no off-street parking (particularly zones X and Y).

·       The council should request input into the type and use of signage.

·       Support should be given for plans to create additional cycle lanes.

·       WSCC should be encouraged to provide additional electric vehicle charging points.

With regard to signage Mrs Murphy clarified that the proposal includes plans for permit holder only past this point signs and then repeater signs within the road/s.  With regard to electric vehicle charging points Mrs Murphy confirmed that the council provides a number of charging points on its own land and would encourage WSCC to do the same.

Following concerns about the impact of the proposal on the use of car parks Mrs Murphy explained that the council already offers season tickets at a heavily discounted price which can be flexible to the user’s needs.  She confirmed that if a commuter permit is offered the council would encourage WSCC to price it to encourage off-street parking.  She added that the proposals also include pay and display machines in Quarry Lane and Terminus Road.

Decision

The Cabinet then voted unanimously to make the resolutions below.

RESOLVED BY THE CABINET

1.     That having considered the consultation document relating to the Chichester proposed Parking Management Plan the response to WSCC set out within appendix one be agreed.

2.     That the Cabinet delegates authorityto the Divisional Manager of Place to add any minor amendments to appendix one after consultation with the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Growth and Place.