Agenda item

Minutes:

Consideration was given to a report which reviewed and updated the current Gainsborough Car Park Strategy to ensure that the supply of car parking was responsive to both current and future demand; and to ensure it aligned to the regeneration programme of the town.

 

The primary aim of the review was to support town centre viability and local traders, demonstrating that the Council had listened and responded to concerns in this regard.

 

This review had appraised the current charging tariffs and permit prices to ensure that the proposed improvements to town centre car parking was affordable and self-financing in line with the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan. This strategy would include a Communication plan and a consultation exercise to ascertain local business and shoppers views on the effectiveness of the “Free after 3pm” policy on viability, as opposed to an alternative, of “One hour free at any time”. 

 

Members had earlier been provided with an addendum to the report, which primarily related to the Roseway Car Park, its refurbishment and the financing of such, the content of which superseded recommendation two, bullet point 3.

 

To aide Members understandings of the proposals, a short power point presentation was given, during which Members were provided with information in respect of the following: -

 

·         The current position, noting that in December 2016, with the loss of two large private car parks, demand outstripped supply;

·         The details of Phase 1 recommendations relating to new supply generation and when this supply would become available as a result;

·         The other recommendations associated with Phase 1 and the costs to the Council or income generated to the Council, as a result;

·          The business case regarding the Roseway Car park and the rationale for this being delivered in an alternative way, as per the information included in the addendum;

·         The new supply which would be generated by Autumn 2018;

·         Details of those recommendations it was proposed would be implemented with immediate effect;

·         Details of the Phase 2 recommendations and the current sites which were under consideration.

 

Debate ensued and a number of Members expressed their dissatisfaction, of the current strategy and the situation that had resulted.  Concern was expressed that the sales of permits had been unmanaged further adding to the difficulties.

 

Support to local businesses was seen of paramount importance and some Members were of the view that this would only be achieved if permit holders were removed from the Town Centre Car Parks, namely Roseway, Ship Court and Bridge Street. It was suggested that this should be implemented as early as November in order to support Christmas trade.  There were also calls for the “free for the 1st hour” Policy to be implemented with immediate effect.

 

Regarding the plans for the Roseway Car Park, and the requirements of the hotel developer both during and after construction, again some Members expressed dissatisfaction and feared ultimately that the public car park would be lost to the hotel. Some were uncomfortable that prices for local residents would rise, whilst hotel guests would be given free parking.

 

In responding Officers advised permit sales had been suspended and continued to be, they shared the rationale of supporting local business and moving permit holders from town centre.  The Strategy presented aimed to do this but in a planned manner, moving permit holders once new supply had been established. 

 

Regarding the Roseway Car Park, Officers again explained the rationale for the revised approach to its refurbishment, the benefits this would afford, and the enhanced asset that would result.  Assurance was offered that the car park would remain the asset of the Council, hotel guests would not be given free parking, rather a permit with conditions. 

 

Other Members were of the view that the hotel brought about a number of other wider economic benefits to the town and thus issuing a limited number of permits for guests seemed reasonable. Furthermore this arrangement could be reviewed and revised if necessary. Car Park refurbishment had been planned and the alternative delivery mechanism was considered value for money and would in the fullness of time result in more parking spaces being available.

 

A Member sought indication of the number of short stay car parking spaces which would be made available under this Strategy before December 2017, having heard the response concern was expressed that the situation would not have improved by December.  It was again suggested that all permit holders should be prohibited from parking in Bridge Street, Roseway and Ship Court with immediate effect.

 

Officers advised that revoking passes would not be feasible, however the proposed staged pricing increase would likely result in a number of people not renewing their permits. It was important that permit holders were only displaced, once alternative supply had been secured. The arrangement with Tesco would be greater used and extended.  However, this position was challenge, with some Members being of the view that it was in the gift of the Authority to change the terms and conditions of permits, as they saw fit.

 

On that basis a counter proposal was made and seconded namely that the use of permits be prohibited in the Roseway, Ship Court and Bridge Street Car Parks with effect from November 2017 and the “first hour free” policy be implemented with immediate effect.  On being put to the vote, the motion was lost.

 

The recommendations as per the officer report where then moved, seconded and voted upon and on that basis it was RESOLVED that: -

 

(a)     the findings of the car parking review be used as the evidence base to enable the Council to manage car parking supply and demand including the charging regime up to 2023 as part of the regeneration plans for the town.

 

(b)    the Phase 1 recommendations, set out in section 7 of the report, be implemented namely:

 

·         Greater Liaison with Marshalls Yard to manage their overflow car                 parking at peak times more effectively and especially                                        to cater for the development of the hotel at the Sun                                       Inn and refurbishment of the Roseway car park.

 

·         It be RECOMMENDED to Corporate Policy and Resources Committee that a capital budget of £40,000 be approved to spend within the current year for construction of the Bridge Street extension, funded by prudential borrowing.

 

·          It be RECOMMENDED to Corporate Policy and Resources Committee that a capital budget of £450,000 be built into 2018/19 capital programme for construction works at Roseway, funded by prudential borrowing and the scheme be delivered by North Street (Gainsborough) limited through a Grant Funding Agreement;

 

·         That charging for the new Bridge Street extension                                           commence as soon as practicable after the building works                                 have ceased.

 

·          It be RECOMMENDED to Corporate Policy and Resources Committee that parking charges for Roseway be increased by 25% when it re-opens post refurbishment in Autumn 2018.

 

·         That charging for parking at Lidl commence as soon as                                  practicable upon completion of the property purchase.

 

·          It be RECOMMENDED to Corporate Policy and Resources that parking permits be increased in two stages, 2018/19 and 2019/20 in order to achieve a charge that reflects a 45% discount on the long stay (6+ hours) ticket price. Further advice with regards to the maximum number of permits to be sold (note the financial model is based on 60% of chargeable spaces) be taken

 

·         That four of the eight disabled spaces at North Street be re-                           designated as available for all users from 1 April 2018,                            providing 6 standard bays in their place.                                   

 

·          It be RECOMMENDED to Corporate Policy and Resources Committee that the lease with Tesco for 50 parking spaces be extended and negotiations to purchase this land as a minimum continue, up to a maximum value as indicated in the model;

 

·         That the hotel construction company be allowed free use                               of 30 spaces at Roseway car park in exchange for a                                             parcel of land that will facilitate a minimum 16 additional parking                      spaces at the car park.

 

·      the use of permits in Roseway be prohibited to facilitate an                            increased turnover of parking to benefit town centre                                         businesses. 

 

·         further liaise with LCC Highways to seek additional and more                       prominent signage directing road users to car parks.  To                                    supplement existing signage within car parks, providing                             information regarding other long and short stay car parks                                 including locations.

 

·         Seek to designate 2-3 coach parking bays within the town                             centre, potentially 1 space in the existing Lidl site at Ropery                                   Road and a further 2 in the bus station.

 

          In addition, that the Council consult town centre businesses and            stakeholders on the following:

 

·         Allow the first hour parking to be free at any time; or

     

·         To retain the free after 3pm policy.

 

(c)     It be RECOMMENDED to Corporate Policy and Resources that these costs, as detailed above, be approved, as part of the Car Parking Funding Strategy.

 

(d)     The Phase 2 Recommendations in section 9 of the report, be agreed in principle, subject to detailed business cases for each acquisition when the feasibility work concludes on a site by site basis.

 

(e)     a review of the Market Rasen car parking charges (based on the methodology used for the Gainsborough review) commence with immediate effect, and the results be brought back to both the Prosperous Communities Committee and the Corporate Policy and Resources Committee in September.