Agenda item - Parking zones to be retained and/or amended in light of the consultation response to reintroducing a charge for the first resident permit

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 vehicles which caused the problems. She felt the limited time zones could be policed better and would be more successful in generating income from the fines. In Baffins Road she knew that residents would like longer than 4 pm to 8 pm as a time period.

Councillor Potter raised the issue of those returning late from work and not being able to find a space whether this was a breach by PCC? Michael Robinson, the Parking Operations Manager, responded that they would not be entitled to a refund as there was no right to a space but a right to park; some residents having second and third permits.

Councillor Ken Ferrett gave a guarded welcome to the proposals as he felt that the previous schemes had experienced some problems with lots spaces being left during the day. He was also aware of the financial problems that meant the RPZs had to pay their own way. This was an attempt to improve things. He did however ask why the FG zone in Stamshaw why it was being it's proposed for removal when the majority had wanted to keep it?

Councillor Ellcome responded to the points that had been made and drew people's attention to the figures within the reports that showed the responses that were often a low percentage of the number of permit holders, such as in Portsea North only 17 had responded out of 272. It was therefore more difficult to deal with the areas in which people were not responding. In Fratton those living near the station wanted the zone whereas those living further north did not see the same need. Therefore these reports were the initial responses to the survey and before zones were amended there would be further public consultation. He asked that ward councillors be involved in speaking to the residents as part of the consultation.

Councillor Ellcome responded to the points made about a report on the MB/MC zones not being at this meeting, so he had asked for more clarity on these schemes and hoped this would be brought back to the next meeting.

There had been reference to the need for a city-wide strategy for parking and Councillor Ellcome reported that in 2012 under the previous Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation there had been a review conducted that acknowledged the need for a change for the first permit scheme but the previous Administration did not wish to progress this. However under the new Administration the Council had passed a budget including this as an item of revenue. The original scheme in GA in Fratton had been introduced with a charge of £25 and then this had been removed and he felt it was better to carry on charging a small amount to enable the schemes to take place. It was regrettable that there had been a two year delay as there were now a number of areas requesting new zones that could not be dealt with until the backlog could be cleared. He therefore wished to approve the recommendation to go out to consultation, with residents and businesses, on the schemes currently operating and take these responses to a later meeting for formal decision.

DECISIONS: