Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of members' interests.

The purpose of the report by the Director of Transport, Environment & Business Support is following consideration of the consultation responses (on re-introducing a charge for the first Resident permit), to set out which parking zones are to be retained unchanged or amended to improve their effectiveness / efficiency.

(1)  That the following parking zones are retained without any changes:

*                 BB The Heights

*                 BE Portsmouth Road

*                 FA Old Commercial Road

*                 HB Coniston Avenue

(2)             That operation of the following parking zones is proposed to be amended. This will require public consultation via Traffic Regulation Orders and a subsequent public decision meeting for each zone before changes can be implemented. (Suggested proposals outlined in Appendix A).

*                 AB Wymering                           

*                 BA Park Grove                         

*                 BC East Cosham                     

*                 BD Windsor Road

*                 FB Whale Island Way

*                 FC Landport North

*                 FE Buckler's Court

*                 FF Rudmore Court

*                 GB Alverstone

*                 HA Baffins

*                 JA Portsea

*                 JB Landport

*                 JC Hyde Park Road

*                 JE Fratton West

*                 JF Garnier Street

*                 KA Old Portsmouth

*                 KB Hambrook

*                 KC West Southsea

*                 KD Castle Road

*                 LA North Southsea

*                 LB Somerstown

*                 MA Beatrice & Leopold

*                NA Priorsdean

Alan Cufley, the Director of Transport, Environment & Business Support presented his report which set out the split recommendations - firstly the residents' parking zones (RPZ) which are to be retained without any changes and secondly those for which there were proposed amendments which would require public consultation through Traffic Regulation Orders to see if a majority wish to see the RPZs retained.  Today's meeting was regarding the responses to the initial consultation and the suggestions from these would be developed into proposals and subject to a 21 day public consultation period, before being brought back to future decision meetings by the Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation.

Councillor Ellcome reiterated that the residents' suggestions had been sought on the issue of the first permit charge and the zones requiring amendment would not be decided at this meeting but would be decided after there was further consultation.

Councillor Ellcome then invited deputations, some of which touched upon both items for consideration at this meeting regarding those RPZ to be retained and amended and also those RPZ to be removed or reduced in size. 

(A deputation was made by a member of the public Mr Drew regarding the GA Zone in Fratton, so his comments are recorded under minute 33.)

Councillor Ashmore then spoke as a Ward Councillor for Fratton mainly regarding the GA Scheme, so his comments are included in Minute 33. 

Councillor Hunt then spoke and his points included:

·         The consultation exercises had caused confusion for residents.

·         People were not being asked if they favoured the 'status quo'

·         The Liberal Democrats felt that the permits should be free rather than people having to pay to park when people's wages were not going up.

·         Permits were less affordable in some wards than in others.

·         Why were MB and MC zones not included?

·         There was a loss of money by not implementing schemes when other zones had generated income.

·         There should be more involvement of ward councillors.

Councillor Winnington then spoke, his points included:

·         There was a need to build on the success of the currently suspended MB/ MC zone with the wider use of shorter enforcement periods.

·         He questioned the need to have a parking charge as residents in the most deprived areas were not choosing to have the zones due to the affordability issue.

·         There were inconsistencies in the equalities impact assessment (EIA) with socially excluded groups were being penalised.

·         There was a need for a vision for parking in the city.

·         Some areas such as those near Albert Road needed 24 hour time periods, whilst other areas may benefit from shorter periods.

Councillor Ellcome referred to the seven written representations which he had received which commented on the Fratton, Old Portsmouth and Bevis Road RPZ areas, which he had read and taken on board.

The opposition spokespersons then spoke.  Councillor Stagg felt that the first permit holder should not have to pay £30 as it was not the first car as it was the extra cars and commercial  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

The purpose of the Director Transport, Environment and Business Support's report, following consideration of the consultation responses (on re-introducing a charge for the first Resident permit), is to set out which parking zones it is proposed to remove entirely or reduce in size and amend.  The zones remaining as they are and/or with changes are considered within a separate report.

(1)  That proposals are put forward under a formal Traffic Regulation Order (includes public consultation) to remove the following parking zones:

*                 AA Newbolt Road (Paulsgrove)

*                 AC Farmlea Road (Paulsgrove)

*                 JD Portsea North (Portsea)

(2)        That proposals are put forward under a formal Traffic Regulation Order (includes public consultation) to reduce in size and amend the operation of the following parking zones:

*                 GA Fratton                      - Permit Holders Only 11am-1pm in:

                    SelbourneTerr, Claremont Rd, Kingsdown Pl, Walmer  

                    Rd (to Guildford Rd junction), Ariel Rd, Thorncroft Rd,

                    Cornwall Rd, Purbrook Rd, Lincoln Rd.

                  - Remove residents' parking restriction from rest of GA.

*                 FD Bevis Road              - Permit Holders Only 1pm-3pm in:

                                                              Mills Rd, Bevis Rd, Bevis Rd North, Seagrove Rd, Croft

                                                              Rd and Stamshaw Rd (between Seagrove Rd and

                                                              Pitcroft Rd)

                                                            - Remove residents' parking restriction from rest of FD.

                  - Combine remaining FD roads with remaining FG roads.

*                 FG Stamshaw South   - Permit Holders Only 1pm-3pm in:

                                                              Lower Derby Rd and link road (west of Twyford Ave),

                                                              Stanley Rd, Simpson Rd, Twyford Ave (south of Lower

                                                              Derby Rd to roundabout)

                                                                        - Remove residents' parking restrictions from rest of FG.

                                                                        - Combine remaining FG roads with remaining FD roads.

                  (Paragraph 4.4 of the report gives details of how the above would be achieved.)

Alan Cufley the Director of Transport, Environment and Business Support presented his report and recommended that three areas were removed and others were amended for which there would need to be Traffic Regulation Orders and a report back to the Cabinet Member of Traffic & Transportation.  Councillor Ellcome then gave those who had made the previous deputations another chance to speak.

Mr Drew had spoken earlier, whose points had included:

·         Concern about the removal or amendment of GA as it was already difficult to park there.

·         There would be displacement from parking by commuters using the station. 

·         Shoppers also used the area as a free car park

·         Football day/evening parking meant it was difficult for residents to park in their roads at these times. 

·         There were many untaxed cars left unchecked by wardens.

He added an extra point regarding that where there was a parking zone displacement the second and third vehicles would be parked outside the zones such as at St Mary's Road where there were vans parked outside the Fratton GA zone.

Councillor Hunt wished to reiterate that the Liberal Democrats would have all zones as free and pointed out that the MB and MC model showed that a profit could be made of £38,000 per annum and pointed out there were five other zones that the current administration had decided not to go ahead with.  There was a danger of over-consulted leading to the low response levels and he felt that the previous evidence should also be considered by the Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation.

Councillor Winnington added:

·         He was disappointed there was no mention of the Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) so he felt that the report was flawed. 

·         The wealthier areas they were keeping their zones.

·         There was evidence that shorter zones worked as at MB where parking paid for itself. 

·         There should be a proper review not just saying that you either pay or lose your zones. 

Councillor Ashmore had spoken earlier, whose points included:

·         He was surprised that it said in the report that most residents wanted the scheme scrapped which he disputed as this was in response to the issue of paying for the permit and its affordability.

·         He warned that it had been hard to park before the zones had been implemented and he felt most residents wanted to keep the GA scheme as it was.

·         He felt that by keeping it temporary in the evenings by the station, it recognised the problem but it should not just be in those roads as it would impact on others nearby.

Councillor Ashmore added that Councillor Ellcome had previously said that people value their permits and he felt this was the case in Fratton.  Councillor Ellcome stressed that the hours of a zone do not affect the price of the permit.  For the MA zone the two hours was to help with the commuter problem and also to give support to the local shops.  With regard to the five extra zones referred to he  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.