Agenda item

Integrated Parking Strategy

Report by the Director of Highways, Transport and Planning.

 

The Committee is invited to consider and comment on the extent to which the proposed Strategy:

 

a.   Meets the needs of residents and businesses.

b.   Reflects advances in technology, both those already realised, and those anticipated.

c.    Fits with the Council’s other strategies and policies, for example in respect of climate change, and with those of the district and borough councils, such as in respect of air quality.

d.   Addresses the scale of planned development in West Sussex.

e.   Whether the present COVID-19 crisis and its consequences might have implications for the Strategy

 

Minutes:

4.1     The Committee considered a report by the Executive Director Place Services and the Director of Highways, Transport and Planning (copy appended to the signed minutes).

 

4.2     The Cabinet Member introduced the report and confirmed that this is a strategic document.

 

4.3     Miles Davy, Parking Manager set out the background and outlined some of the developments that have occurred since the last update in 2014.

 

4.4     The Committee made a number of comments including those that follow. It:

 

·       Raised concerns that the Strategy had been developed before the impact of COVID-19 is known particularly regarding future public transport use and any effect this would have on congestion.

 

·       Sought clarification on whether the need to encourage people back into town centres and coastal areas has been fully considered.

 

·       Asked that more consideration be given to cycle parking to maintain the upsurge in cycle journeys.

 

·       Raised concerns regarding the lack of enforcement particularly regarding pavement and verge parking but welcomed the Government’s review of this issue.

 

·       Sought clarification on whether pavement and verge parking was an offence and who was responsible for enforcement.

 

The Committee resolved that:

 

1.   The strategic impact of Covid needs to be looked at in some detail in terms of both impact and funding, including the changes in public transport use over the longer-term.

 

2.   There are conflicts between short-term and long-term particularly in regard to the economic dimension which need to be corrected.

 

3.   There needs to be more treatment of parking for cyclists, as it is not mentioned in the Strategy.

 

4.   The Council’s Climate Change and Clean Air decisions need to be referred to and addressed.

 

5.   The capital and revenue costs associated with delivery of the strategy need to be better set out.

 

6.   A report is needed on the timing and delivery of future road space audits (RSAs).

 

7.   There needs to be adequate resources for effective enforcement. The Committee welcomes the fact that systems to enable reporting from district and borough councils on Civil Parking Enforcement are in place. It would be helpful if views of the public can also be gathered, to improve enforcement.

 

8.   Consultation responses from district and borough councils need to be included in the Strategy.

 

9.   Controlled Parking Zones being now being dependent on RSA process (hence the need for a paper on RSA timing and delivery).

 

10.It was reassured to hear that the issue of verge/footway parking is being addressed as a high priority.

 

11.Moving traffic violations are a particular priority around school safety zones, and need to be looked at in more detail.

 

12.  Parking in new developments needs to be looked at again as the planning system does not appear to be robust enough. It was reassured that Matt Davey will look at our current guidance.

 

13.The importance of the EV Strategy and Climate Change Strategy - the need for charging infrastructure is paramount.

 

14.It recognised the need to give guidance to communities about what they are able to do about verge parking, such as planters, and better communicate it to communities.

 

15.There is a need to better communicate to communities about the responsibilities of car ownership, including responsible parking.

 

Supporting documents: