Agenda item

The purpose of the report by the Director of Regeneration is to establish the priorities of the Residents' Parking Programme, as per paragraph 4.6 of the Residents' Parking Programme of Consultation approved on 31 July 2018.

RECOMMENDED

(1)       the progress made since approval of the Residents' Parking Programme of Consultation on 31 July 2018, and described in paragraphs 4.4,  is noted;

(2)       the Residents' Parking Programme of Consultation is divided into 3 workstreams and prioritised as described in paragraph 6;

(3)       workstreams 1 and 2 are progressed as set out in Table 2 and described in paragraphs 6.2 to 6.6, and that workstream 3  is initially progressed using consultants as set out in Table 3 and described in paragraphs 6.7 to 6.10, and;

(4)       when either workstream 1 or 2 is complete the next area to be actioned will be determined in accordance with Table 4.  

The Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation agreed that :

(1)       the progress made since approval of the Residents' Parking Programme of Consultation on 31 July 2018, and described in paragraphs 4.4,  be noted;

(2)       the Residents' Parking Programme of Consultation be divided into 3 workstreams and prioritised as described in paragraph 6;

(3)       workstreams 1 and 2 are progressed as set out in Table 2 and described in paragraphs 6.2 to 6.6, and that workstream 3  is initially progressed using consultants as set out in Table 3 and described in paragraphs 6.7 to 6.10, and;

(4)       when either workstream 1 or 2 is complete the next area to be actioned will be determined in accordance with Table 4.  

Kevin McKee, Parking Manager, introduced the report, stressing that this was seeking to go out to consultation and was not seeking implementation of particular zones at this point.  The plan appended to the report sets out potential areas for new Residents' Parking Zones (RPZs).

Deputations are not minuted in full and can be viewed as part of the webcast record of the meeting:

https://livestream.com/accounts/14063785/Cabinet-TT-06Sep2019

i)             Councillor Scott Payter-Harris spoke raising concerns of the impact on northern zones in the city, such as Hilsea, and did not believe there is public support for the 'H' zones.

ii)            Councillor Luke Stubbs made comments, as whilst this could benefit Eastney and Craneswater ward (due to displacement parking) he was concerned about the impact on businesses and tourism.

iii)           Councillor Rob New spoke about the impact on Copnor ward and the impact of limiting to 2 cars for families; he favoured a city-wide referendum.

iv)           Councillor Darren Sanders commented on this report following on from the cross party TECS Scrutiny panel report and welcomed the public exhibitions and the report was precautionary for where there may be cases of displacement.

v)            Councillor Terry Norton felt that the project is under-resourced so residents are waiting for implementation of schemes.

Councillor Stagg responded to the points raised, including that consultation only took place where there are requests.  She had also received written deputations.  Kevin McKee responded that staffing had been increased to progress the 3 workstreams (and additional Transport Planner for 4 days a week and 2 technical officers to give support, but it was hard to recruit to this specialist field).

Councillor Bosher, Conservative Spokesperson, asked about the HC survey results and it was confirmed that these had been published on the PCC website and residents had been updated, an exhibition and informal survey had been undertaken and there would be further consultation.  It was confirmed that Copnor was on the programme for consultation. In response to a question from Councillor Bosher Kevin McKee reported that in 4 or 5 zones there are more permits issued than parking spaces, and how this can be controlled is being investigated, and this was one of the reasons for holding public exhibitions in the HC area.  Nikki Musson clarified that an informal survey is used to identify if there is a parking problem and if there is, this is verified by officers.

Councillor Stagg reported that the new exhibitions were intended to ensure better consultation.  Councillor Bosher queried the cost of using consultants and asked about how the workstreams would be undertaken and the time if would take; the costs were not yet known West Southsea (KC zone) was next on the programme of the existing zones to be reviewed by consultants, with other areas listed for review commencing once the resources were available. There would be a rolling programme of consultation in the M and H areas and the actual timescales would depend on the response to those consultations, therefore the programme of consultation had estimated timeframes.

Councillor Heaney, Labour Spokesperson, asked why 3 schemes from the 2015 programme not yet been implemented? Officers responded that the 2015 scheme was still being worked through and in the H and M areas there was priority based on displacement.  Councillor Heaney asked that the review of the impact of MD zone was not delayed by the political Purdah period, as this should be within the 6 months of implementation that had been previously stated by the Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation. Councillor Stagg reiterated that this should be undertaken within the 6 months.  Officers would also be surveying other 'M' areas and reports would be brought back on the results when these were available.

Councillor Heaney hoped that all ward councillors would be kept informed of the consultations and also that they give notice of coming as deputations at these decision meetings. His view was that the resources should be found to undertake these consultations.

Councillor Stagg summed up that the approach within the report was the best available at this time; problems were caused by the high car ownership in Portsmouth, so with insufficient parking spaces there would be congestion.

DECISIONS:

The Cabinet Member for Traffic & Transportation agreed that:

(1)       the progress made since approval of the Residents' Parking Programme of Consultation on 31 July 2018, and described in paragraphs 4.4,  be noted;

(2)       the Residents' Parking Programme of Consultation be divided into 3 workstreams and prioritised as described in paragraph 6;

(3)       workstreams 1 and 2 are progressed as set out in Table 2 and described in paragraphs 6.2 to 6.6, and that workstream 3  is initially progressed using consultants as set out in Table 3 and described in paragraphs 6.7 to 6.10, and;

(4)       when either workstream 1 or 2 is complete the next area to be actioned will be determined in accordance with Table 4.