Minutes

Car Parking Task and Finish Forum - Thursday, 7th November, 2019 9.08 am

Proposed venue: Council Chamber, Blackdown House, Border Road, Honiton, EX14 1EJ

Contact: Chris Lane, Democratic Services Officer  01395 517544 email:  clane@eastdevon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Public speaking

Minutes:

There were no members of the public wishing to speak.

2.

Election of Chairman

Minutes:

RESOLVED that Councillor Alan Dent be appointed Chairman of the Car Parking Task and Finish Forum (TAFF).

3.

Declarations of interest

Minutes:

Minute 6 Car Parking TAFF Terms of Reference Cllr Eleanor Rylance – Personal Interest – Broadclyst Parish Councillor

 

Minute 6 Car Parking TAFF Terms of Reference Cllr Jack Rowland – Personal Interest – Seaton Town Councillor

 

Minute 6 Car Parking TAFF Terms of Reference Cllr Joe Whibley – Personal Interest – Exmouth Town Councillor

 

Minute 6 Car Parking TAFF Terms of Reference Cllr Maddy Chapman – Personal Interest – Exmouth Town Councillor

 

Minute 6 Car Parking TAFF Terms of Reference Cllr Bruce De Saram – Personal Interest – Exmouth Town Councillor

 

Minute 6 Car Parking Terms of Reference Cllr Andrew Colman – Personal Interest – Exmouth Town Councillor

 

Minute 6 Car Parking Terms of Reference Cllr Kim Bloxham – Personal Interest – Cranbrook Town Councillor

 

 

4.

Matters of urgency

Minutes:

There were no matters of urgency

5.

Confidential/exempt items

Minutes:

There were no matters which the officers recommended be dealt with in Part B.

6.

Car Parking TAFF Terms of Reference

Minutes:

Members of the Car Parking Task and Finish Forum (TAFF) discussed potential terms of reference and the purpose of the TAFF. They received a draft scoping report from Andrew Ennis, Service Lead – Environmental Health and Car Parks and agreed that this would provide the four cornerstones of the TAFFs terms of reference, along with the Climate Emergency and Equality Issues.

 

It was recognised that it was important to create a discipline around scoping the TAFF terms of reference, particularly as this is a wide subject area. Members agreed the importance of identifying what is in scope, what is out of scope, the evidence required, who is to be invited to attend the TAFF, the timetable and key outputs anticipated.

 

During discussions the following points and questions were noted and would be used to scope the terms of reference:

·       How are our car parks operating and what is their impact on the town centres.

·       There were 57 car parks in East Devon and they raised a significant amount of revenue for the Councils General Fund.

·       The town centres of East Devon relied upon the car parks to bring in shoppers.

·       Importance of not reducing the £3.4M of income from car parks as this would make a substantial hole in an already stretched budget.

·       Improve the interface between on street parking and our car parks. Could we talk to Devon County Council (DCC) about car parking charges? Andrew Ennis confirmed that discussions were held with DCC on this issue.

·       Each town in East Devon had different needs and issues and so is there a need to look at bespoke solutions for each town.

·       It is necessary to consider the provision of free car parking as towns in other districts had done this and it had created additional business for shops in the high street.

·       Parts of Exmouth were being considered for resident parking and the TAFF should take into account the implications of residents parking schemes.

·       Was renting individual car parking spaces in a car park an effective ways of utilising spaces?

·       Different ways of paying for car parking should be investigated. There were 43 contactless payment machines now in East Devon car parks. The possibility of having an oyster card discount scheme for local residents should be investigated.

·       Bearing in mind the climate emergency there should be an incentive to use electric vehicles with the possibility of lower car parking charges.

·       So far, after the initial set up costs, all income from the Manor Pavilion car park had gone to the theatre.

·       There were asset transfer opportunities for town and parish councils to take control of car parks. This had already happened in Beer and Dowell Street West in Honiton. The financial implications would need to be assessed.

·       If the first two hours were free how would it work? Andrew Ennis reported that this was difficult to manage and it was considered that East Devon’s car parking charges were reasonable at present.

·       Cost of car park maintenance and why should  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.