Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Clucas.

There were no declarations of interest.

Minutes of the meeting held on 16 May 2017.

The minutes of the last meeting were approved and signed as a correct record.

There were none.

Report of the Cabinet Member Development and Safety

The Cabinet Member Development and Safety introduced the report which discussed the proposed parking strategy that would guide the council’s approach to managing its parking estate and guide the decision-making process for all parking considerations over the next fourteen years. He highlighted that car parking was a major issue for residents and for the council it generated £3.5m gross revenue per annum. A strategic way forward was key in terms of the wider economic and social environment and for income and revenue for the council.

The Cabinet Member explained that in 2015 a car parking member working group was formed to develop a shared understanding of current parking related issues and scope for positive changes to the current provision. However, the parking service, with no managerial lead and a lack of technical and managerial expertise had been unable to progress project related work in relation to parking to feedback into the group for decision making. It was however agreed that  CBC would commission a consultant to develop a comprehensive parking strategy for Cheltenham and in November 2016 Arup, supported by Parking Matters, was awarded the contract for developing a parking strategy for Cheltenham. The Cabinet Member explained that the strategy was now required to cover a period up to 2031 and would be accompanied by a five-year action plan as outlined in Appendix 4.1. The objectives of the project have been to deliver a parking strategy that would :

·          ensure the provision of adequate parking up to 2031, that is delivered effectively, logically and at a competitive cost, whilst encouraging access by more sustainable transport alternatives, including walking, cycling and public transport;

·         assist traffic management, minimising congestion and its associated environmental impacts;

·         enhance the visitor experience and thereby help to optimise the economic growth of the town.

·         maintain or increase current parking revenue levels.

The car parking strategy would form part of a wider invest-to-save initiative for Cheltenham Borough Council to optimise economic growth, whilst at the same time supporting the aims of the Place Strategy.

The Cabinet Member referred to the recommendations based on the findings set out in the report provided by Arup and were summarised in Appendix 4. They included  parking tariffs, sustainable transport, way-finding and signage, joining up with GCC regarding pay-by-phone and enforcement regimes, secure cycle parking and free motorcycle parking.

Finally, the Cabinet Member highlighted that this was a comprehensive strategy and if adopted would future proof car parking up until 2031.

Members discussed the issue. They welcomed the input of the cabinet member working group which had covered many issues and had considered the final draft of the strategy. One Member requested that further consideration should be given to the charging strategy relating to evening parking. In response the Cabinet Member acknowledged that charging was a sensitive issue. However, when analysed car parking was cheaper in Cheltenham than in Bath or Oxford and not that much higher than in Worcester. One recommendation was that car parking tariffs should be split into 4  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Cabinet Member Finance informed that the launch of the Cotswold element of the Tour of Britain would take place on Wednesday 14 June at the Town Hall.

The Leader informed that a Special Cabinet would be held at 5 pm on Monday 26 June to consider the call-in of the Cabinet decision of 15 May 2017 to approve the application for a Springbank Neighbourhood Area and Neighbourhood Forum. A request was made by a Cabinet member to the Head of Law that a brief version of the case law referred to at the Overview and Scrutiny meeting be made available to Cabinet for the purposes of this meeting.