Issue - meetings

That:

1)        approval be given to a trial to 31 March 2017 to increase the 1 hour parking charge increase in the Woodley car parks (Crockhamwell Road, Headley Road, Lytham Road East, and Lytham Road West) from 70p to 80p;

2)        Officers be instructed to amend signage and equipment in the car parks as required;

3)        the implementation of the evening and Sunday charging in Woodley, as agreed by the Executive on 31 March 2016, be suspended until the trial results are considered;

4)        the results of the trial will be brought back to Executive for a longer term decision to be made regarding car parking charges in Woodley.

The Executive considered a report relating to a proposed car parking trial in Woodley, as proposed by the Woodley Town Centre Management Initiative, which would result in an increase to the one hour daily rate parking charge.

The Executive Member for Highways and Transport advised the meeting that currently parking charges covered Monday to Saturday from 8am-6pm and in order to provide funds to continue developing and maintaining the Borough’s highways a decision was taken by the Executive to charge for evenings and Sunday parking.  During the resulting consultation period certain groups expressed concern that the increase in charges might adversely affect some of their communities.  Woodley Town Centre Management Initiative therefore put forward a proposal to increase the one hourly parking charge from 70p-80p in the four Woodley car parks as an alternative to the evening and Sunday charges. It was therefore intended to run a trial of this proposal until the end of March 2017.  Councillor Richards informed the meeting that after the trial period it was intended to study the statistics, including income generated, from the trial and compare those against the statistics from other car parks in the Borough; whilst ensuring that the comparisons were fair.  A decision would then be made on whether to continue with the charges in Woodley, extend the trial or bring them in line with charges in other car parks in the Borough. 

The meeting was advised that following publication of the report it was found that there were a number of errors and omissions and areas within the report which required further clarification.  Councillor Richards therefore tabled some additional information to address these issues.  Councillor Richards went through the items on the tabled sheet and confirmed that the sheet would be attached to the minutes.

RESOLVED that:

1)        a trial to 31 March 2017 be approved to increase the 1 hour parking charge increase in the Woodley car parks (Crockhamwell Road, Headley Road, Lytham Road East, and Lytham Road West) from 70p to 80p;

2)        Officers be instructed to amend signage and equipment in the car parks as required;

3)        the implementation of the evening and Sunday charging in Woodley, as agreed by the Executive on 31 March 2016, be suspended until the trial results are considered;

4)        the results of the trial will be brought back to Executive for a longer term decision to be made regarding car parking charges in Woodley.