Issue - meetings

The Committee heard from the Senior Building & Projects Officer who explained that the council had commissioned a new Parking Strategy to ensure the parking service continued to support thriving town centres, sustainable transport, regeneration, and financial resilience across Gainsborough and Market Rasen. The strategy responded to changing travel habits, hybrid working, local growth, and environmental priorities, while building on earlier reviews in 2015, 2017, 2022 and 2024.

It was explained that the Parking Strategy 2026–2031 set out a comprehensive, evidence-led plan to ensure parking provision across Gainsborough and Market Rasen remained accessible, financially sustainable, safe, and aligned with the district’s long-term economic, environmental, and technological objectives. Members were directed to the five main themes of the strategy, which included aspects such as modernising systems through contactless payments, digital permits, enhanced data insights, and integration with the National Parking Platform; improving the overall estate quality; and optimising capacity.

Members were supportive of the strategy and appreciated the parity of approach across the district. The introduction of contactless payment options was queried, citing the high percentage of cash payments, in response it was emphasised that this would be in addition to existing payment methods rather than instead of.

With regard to the extension of the free parking in Gainsborough, Members of the Committee highlighted informal feedback they had received from businesses in the town centre which supported and praised the free parking initiative. Officers explained that the proposed extension would enable a full 12 months of data to be collected, after which the balanced picture would be presented to Members for decision.

During the course of the debate, Members also enquired as to resident parking schemes, which was explained to be under the control of Lincolnshire County Council, however it was recognised that such issues were relevant across the district.

With thanks to Officers and praise for the merits of the strategy, having been moved, seconded, and voted upon, it was

            RESOLVED that

a)    the draft Parking Strategy and Action Plan be approved; and

b)    the Strategy be refreshed in 5 years (2031-32); and

c)    the findings to date from the 2-hour free parking trial in Gainsborough be noted, and that approval be given to extend the trial for a further six months, until 31 January 2027, in order to allow sufficient time for a decision relating to Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), to support continued engagement with local businesses, and to enable the collection of additional data to inform a final assessment; and

d)    the use of the Investment for Growth Reserve to the value of £24,300 to mitigate the forecast loss of car parking income be approved.