Agenda and draft minutes

There were no public speakers at the meeting.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 November 2020 were agreed as a true record.

Guidance is available online to Councillors and co-opted members on making

declarations of interest

4. Declarations of interest.

Councillor Andrew Colman, Personal, Exmouth Town Councillor.

4. Declarations of interest.

Councillor Eleanor Rylance, Personal, Resident and member Broadclyst Parish Council.

4. Declarations of interest.

Councillor Joe Whibley, Personal, Exmouth Town Councillor.

4. Declarations of interest.

Councillor Maddy Chapman, Personal, Resident and user of car parks in Exmouth..

4. Declarations of interest.

Councillor Olly Davey, Personal, Exmouth Town Councillor.

Information on matters of urgency is available online

There were no matters of urgency.

To agree any items to be dealt with after the public (including the press) have been excluded.

There were no items which officers recommended should be dealt with in this way.

Consideration was given to the Service Lead – Environmental Health and Car Parks’ report which set out proposals to introduce changes to the car parking tariffs in some of the Council’s car parks.  It provided recommendations for more efficient operational management options for the busiest car parks, including revised tariffs in the context of a strategic objective to maximise the value of the Council’s car parking assets, whilst also introducing a revised pricing structure for car parking permit to support communities and local economies.

Detailed discussion took place over the proposals in the report and included the following points:

·        Car parking charges had not increased for 10 years, despite VAT rising from 15% to 20% during this time, with EDDC absorbing this increase.

·        The Council needed to raise extra revenue.  If parking charges were not increased then there was likely to be a rise in Council Tax.

·        Increasing parking charges could gravely risk the future of local high street businesses.

·        People needed to be encouraged to come and shop/spend in the town centres.  Charges should not be increased, but the length of time available for parking should be reduced.

·        There should be ‘shoppers only’ car parks for a limited period of parking time, to discourage people from using these car parks as long stays.

·        Residents parking permits would not increase the footfall to businesses.

·        In order to maximise revenue there was merit in increasing charges for beach car parks – raise more funds from coastal locations and ensure good facilities were provided in these areas to attract visitors.

·        Some beach car parks were very close to town centre car parks, therefore there was the danger that if the ‘shopping’ car parks were cheaper beach users might fill these up.

·        There was a need to support retail and protect the car parks.

·        Prices could be frozen for residents and increased for non-residents of East Devon.

·        Had there been consultation with Devon County Council over the cost of their on street parking charges.

·        There were large variances in on street parking charges across the district.

·        Concern that there could be a negative impact on disabled people if parking charges were raised at the most conveniently located car parks – was there an equalities impact assessment on this.

·        If parking charges were not raised then people would continue to drive into town centres and contribute to pollution.  A small increase would not deter people from using car parks.

·        Town centres would need to change in the future and function differently, but people would still need to access them.

·        There was a need to increase income for the Council, but also the need to be aware that the public could have a lack of funds.  Offering a permit would help compensate for a larger increase in fees.

·        The motor home spaces along Exmouth seafront were often taken up by vans used for watersports.  There was also the problem that no facilities for motorhomes were provided at the Maer, resulting in people disposing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.