Issue - meetings

To consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets.

The Director of Environment and Corporate Assets provided an update on the Review of On and Off-Street Parking Charges.

The Committee was advised that the proposed amendments to the Dover District Council (Off-Street Parking Places) Order 2017 were advertised on 22 February 2018 and the Council received 150 comments in response. In addition to this the Council undertook usage surveys in respect of Stembrook Car Park, Dover and Middle Deal Car Park, Deal on three successive Sundays.

As a result of the usage surveys, it was identified that:

·         Stembrook Car Park still had some spare capacity on a Sunday despite being well-used; and

·         Middle Deal Car Park was operating at capacity and was in effect full between 11am – 3pm on Sunday

In addition to this, the Council had been advised by Legal and General that would not seek to apply Sunday parking charges for St James.at this time

As a result of the consultation responses, usage surveys and national and local policy context it had been decided to

RESOLVED: That it be recommended to Cabinet that in the event that Sunday charging is subsequently introduced at the St James site a further report be submitted to Cabinet, with pre-decision scrutiny, before any decision is taken to proceed with the proposals within Dover that were advertised.

(Councillor R J Frost requested that his vote against the decision be recorded.)

To consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Access and Licensing

It was agreed:

 (a) That the following action with regards to the proposed amendments to the Council’s On-Street and Off-Street Parking Orders be taken:

      (i) To agree that the evidence contained within this report supports the introduction of Sunday charging in selected car parks in Dover and Deal but not in Sandwich.

      (ii) To defer the plans to extend Sunday charging within Dover whilst continuing to monitor usage levels but, in the event that Sunday charging is subsequently introduced within the St. James site, to proceed with the proposals within Dover as advertised.

(iii) To extend the validity of the Business Permit for Dover to include Maison Dieu Car Park.

      (iv) To consult on increasing the permitted length of stay at Stembrook car park to 4 hours on Sunday only.

      (v) To limit the proposal to extend Sunday charging within Deal, to include the off-street car park at Middle Street only at this stage.

      (vi) To not extend Sunday charging in Sandwich at this time in the light of the evidence.

      (vii) To continue with the proposed changes to resident permits, extending the usage to Sundays in certain areas with no increase in fee.

(b)  That Cabinet decision CAB 127 of 15 January 2018 be reaffirmed as follows:

       ‘(a)  That the outcome of the annual review of parking charges be noted.

        (b) That parking charges continue to be frozen at their current levels as set out  at Appendix 1 to the report.

        (d) That the period of operation of resident parking zones be extended to include Sundays in all areas.

        (e) That the introduction of parking charges at car parks within Reach Road, St Margaret’s-at-Cliffe; High Street, Eastry; High Street, Ash and High Street, Wingham be deferred pending further work and consultation with parish councils, etc, and a further report be brought back to Cabinet in due course.

        (f) That the changes proposed to the conditions of issue for resident and business permits, namely removing the option to share permits between two vehicles, allowing up to a maximum of two permits per household and introducing restrictions on the size of vehicle entitled to a resident permit, be approved.’

(c)  That the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets be authorised to make the necessary arrangements to introduce the above charges as soon as is practicable, and to make the necessary changes to the Council’s On-Street and Off-Street Parking Orders.