Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies submitted.

There were no declarations of members' interests.

The purpose of the report by the Head of Transport & Environment is to seek adoption of the strategy for Portsmouth Park and Ride.

RECOMMENDED:

(1)  that the Cabinet Member adopt the Portsmouth Park and Ride Strategy.

(2)  that a report reviewing the Park and Ride operation and strategy is brought back to the Cabinet Member in February 2015.

(1)  The Cabinet Member adopted the Portsmouth Park and Ride Strategy

(2)  A report reviewing the Park and Ride operation and strategy will be brought back to the Cabinet Member in February 2015.

A written deputation was circulated by Mr M Dobson of Friends of Old Portsmouth Assocation to support the adoption of the strategy, and detailing the traffic problems on the approaches to Old Portsmouth partly due to visitors to Gunwharf, thereby welcoming the Park & Ride facility but questioning the effectiveness of its marketing to attract drivers and deter them from congesting the city routes.

Nicola Waight, Transport Planning Team Manager, introduced the report; the strategy seeks to support the City Centre Development and Tipner Regeneration.  It does not raise the issue of the extension of the scheme to Southsea at this point, however this would be addressed within the report reviewing the scheme's first 10 months of operation, which would be brought to the February meeting.  Councillor Ellcome had agreed to the report coming in February rather than April to ensure that the timetable could be in place for the busy Easter Holidays (this required 56 days notice to the Traffic Commissioner).  He was pleased that the scheme included the Hover travel from the Hard to the Seafront, and he was involved in discussions with Portsmouth Football Club regarding the possibility of extending the scheme to Fratton Park if they could help subsidise this, and he would like this to be extended to Southsea in the future, funding permitting.

Councillor Michael Andrewes made a deputation to reiterate the request for Southsea as the third retail centre to be added to the route, although he welcomed the link with the Hover bus.  This would help alleviate parking problems in Southsea and he hoped that the Cabinet Member would work with the businesses and ward councillors there.  He also suggested consideration be given to big events at the Kings Theatre being included.

Councillor Ellcome responded that the sustainability of the scheme had to be considered and the possible extension to Southsea would be considered, even if it may need to be a less frequent service to be more affordable.  It was also noted that when a football scheme had previously been operated this is when there had been higher crowds and even then less than 200 fans had used it per match, so there would need to be some subsidy from the club and the use of Lakeside would be considered as there would be benefit for the local residents in Central Southsea especially.    Marc Griffin reported that there were already some arrangements in place with the port for extra capacity for special events.

Councillor Stagg questioned the take up and subsidy arrangements; Susan Aistrope, Finance Manager, reported that as at the end of September, the average occupancy rate was at 47%, although it had peaked in August at 67% when there had been the lower price of £2.    The forecast spend of the first year of subsidy was £350,000.  To break even at the price of £3 there needed to be a 90% occupancy rate.  Councillor Ellcome hoped that the loyalty was being built up but acknowledged that the price  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.