Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report provides an update on the proposals to increase parking revenues in the Town Centre following discussions with members of the Business Improvement District.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment of the contents of this report and associated business case.

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161 474 3700 or email: mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the proposals to increase parking revenues in the town centre following discussions with members of the Business Improvement District. This had taken place following the decision of the Cabinet, at its meeting held on 19 December 2017, to request Officers to meet with stakeholders to consider whether alternative proposals could be implemented to achieve the revenue income.

The Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

• The two proposals relating to district centres remained unchanged from the original business case and discussions were ongoing with local Members to determine whether an alternative solution could be determined.
• With regard to the proposed introduction of a free initial period of fifteen minutes which would be helpful for the ‘click and collect’ retailers and promote the ‘lunchtime sandwich visit’, a Member expressed concern whether fifteen minutes was long enough given the queues at some retailers at peak times. This proposal seemed out of kilter with the Council’s desire to retain shoppers in the town centre.
• Whilst the town centre was being developed, parking charges needed to be made as least restrictive as possible. The possibility of using some of the monies to increase the number of charging points in the town centre for electric vehicles was requested. The possibility of introducing charging points at Life Leisure’s facilities could also be considered. Members felt that there needed to be an assessment of the usage of charging points for electric vehicles and any increase in the number of charging points should be introduced gradually.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration.

The report provides an update on the proposals to increase parking revenues in the Town Centre following discussions with members of the Business Improvement District.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment of the contents of this report and associated business case.

Officer contact: Mark Glynn on 0161 474 3700 or email: mark.glynn@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management & Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the proposals to increase parking revenues in the Town Centre following discussions with members of the Business Improvement District.

The Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing (Councillor Sheila Bailey) attended the meeting to present the report and respond to councillors’ questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         It was important that any proposals to make changes to parking charges in the town centre were set at a level that ensured Stockport did not become uncompetitive.

·         There had been a constructive dialogue with businesses in the town centre which had made a positive contribution to the evolution of the proposals for parking charges.

·         It needed to be recognised that there was a cost to maintaining car parks which needed to be covered by the charges imposed on users.

·         In relation to the current exemption from parking charges by zero emission vehicles, it was commented that it needed to be recognised this would not be sustainable in the long-term as the proportion of zero-emission vehicles increased.

·         A discussion took place in relation to the use of bodycams by civil enforcement officers.  It was commented that there were benefits and disadvantages of the use of such equipment, with some research suggesting that it may make certain situations more adversarial rather than diffusing potential conflict.  It was further commented that it was important that civil enforcement officers continued to be seen as officers of the Council.

·         In response to a question about whether civil enforcement officers ‘paid for themselves’ it was stated that revenue derived through penalty charge notices did not cover the cost of traffic enforcement, however the presence of civil enforcement officers meant that revenue was generated through parking charges that would otherwise be lost.

·         It was commented that charges were not currently levied for the use of the GM Electric Vehicle charging points in Stockport’s car parks, and as the number of electric vehicles increased, consideration would need to be given to the levying of such charges in the future.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.