Agenda item

To consider a report (copy attached) providing an update on the development of the Car Park Asset Management Plan and the other recommendations that were contained in the car park report that went to Communities Scrutiny in October 2016.

9.45 a.m. – 10.20 a.m.

The Lead Member for Highways, Planning and Sustainable Travel, introduced the report (previously circulated) to provide an update on the development of the Car Park Asset Management Plan and the other recommendations which were contained in the car park report which went to Communities Scrutiny in October, 2016.

The recommendations related to the development of a car park asset management plan and income generation initiatives with a view to increasing resources to invest in the county’s car parks.  Members were advised that the proposals presented to them at the meeting had also been presented to most of the Member Area Groups (MAGs) with the exception of the Elwy MAG. Officers were due to present it to the Elwy Group prior to the end of July.  All five MAGs visited to date had been receptive and supportive of the proposals.

Responding to members’ questions the Lead Member and officers advised that:

·       the proposed investment plan, if approved by the Strategic Investment Group (SIG), would be financed from within the Car Parking Service’s budget along with an element of Prudential Borrowing, which would be necessary due to the scale of investment required to realise the Service’s ambition for its facilities;

·       the previous report presented to the Committee in October 2016 had contained detailed analysis of the impact of the increase in car parking charges on their usage;

·       the increase in car parking charges in 2016, the first increase for 7 years, had been necessary in order to address a budget deficit.  Committee members at that time had been clear that they supported a consistent pricing policy across the county;

·       latest statistics on car park usage in the county indicated that current usage levels were on a par with usage levels prior to the increase in charges.  Generally, usage levels had remained consistent for some period of time.  Similarly the income received from the Council’s car parks had increased slightly;

·       new pay and display machines which were to be installed in the Council’s car parks could be easily re-programmed by staff if the need arose i.e. if subsidised parking was to be provided by a town council.  They would also accept both coin and card payments;

·       if the investment plan received SIG’s approval it was anticipated it would take approximately five years to deliver the car park asset management plan in its entirety;

·       the plan would include providing improved, clearer signs in Council owned car parks with a view to improving the user experience and enhancing car parks to be gateways to Denbighshire for tourists;

·       some of the current signs and information boards sited within the county’s car parks had been funded by other services or organisations i.e. countryside services, town councils etc.  Funding for some of these signs had been secured through specific grant funding streams i.e. European funding;

·       it was anticipated that the current option of paying for car parking by mobile phone would be phased out.  This would be due to the introduction of the new pay and display machines having a facility to accept cash and card payment.  The current contract for transacting mobile phone payments was due to expire within two years; and

·       the 2014/15 Denbighshire Town Centre Parking and Traffic Management Study had examined in detail the extent of the misuse of town centre on-street parking and car park facilities and their consequential impact on businesses and residents.

At the conclusion of the discussion the Committee:

RESOLVED:

(i)    that as part of its consideration, it had read, understood and taken account of the Well-being Impact Assessment (Appendix D);

(ii)   having considered the information presented in the report and answers received to the questions raised, to support the continuation of the work to develop the Car Park Asset Management Plan and the other initiatives listed; and

(iii)  that a report be presented to the Committee in March 2018 detailing the progress made with the implementation of the Car Park Asset Management Plan and outlining the findings of the cross-service Car Park Task and Finish Group exploring potential options to improve the visitor experience in terms of parking.