Agenda item

To consider a report of the Service Director (Place Management)

This report considers the responses to the draft parking strategy consultation process and the proposed amendments to the parking strategy.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to consider and comment on the consultation responses and the Council’s proposed response, and comment on the revised parking strategy.

Officer contact: Sue Stevenson, 0161 474 4351, sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Place Management) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) in connection with the responses to the draft parking strategy consultation process and the proposed amendments to the parking strategy. The Scrutiny Committee had been initially consulted on the draft strategy at its meeting held on 3 November 2011.      .

The strategy centred around the objective of having a quality offer in the right places in the borough. Issues highlighted in the report included:-

•           The recruitment of additional Civil Enforcement Officers.

•           The review of the residents parking policies and processes.

•           The refurbishment of the Merseyway Car Park.

•           Planning permission having been granted for a multi-storey car park and cycle centre at the Grand Central site.

•           A number of specific local issues that had been identified as being able    to be dealt with via the Area Committees.

•           The need for more flexible payment methods and payment schedules.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•           Whether the match day parking situation around the Edgeley Park stadium would be affected. The Executive Councillor (Transportation) advised that this was not currently being examined as part of the proposals.

•           Pay on exit from the Council’s car parks remained an option, but a tender was being prepared for a method of payment via a mobile phone based service as this was considerably cheaper, particularly, for example, as the Merseyway car park had a number of exits. Traders had raised the benefit of a system where shoppers would not be conscious of returning to their car by a certain time in order to prevent an additional charge being incurred. It was clarified that motorists would still be able pay by cash at the car parks, as was currently the case.

•           A Member requested that additional limited free parking should be examined on a trial basis in order to assist the regeneration of the district and local centres.

•           The review of the residents’ parking scheme was welcomed and it was felt that Area Committees should be consulted as part of it.

•           The effect on the Council’s car parks of the two hours free car parking offered by many of the supermarkets in the borough.

•           The emphasis should be on enforcing motorists parking illegally where waiting restrictions were in force.

•           Parking in the vicinity of schools remained problematic throughout the borough and the results of investigations should be brought to the appropriate Area Committee.

RESOLVED –  (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That Muse Developments be invited to give a presentation on the proposals for the Grand Central site to a future meeting of the Central Stockport Area Committee.