Agenda item

Report of Assistat Director: Environmental Services

Purpose of report

The purpose of this report is to feedback to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee the outcome of the Car Parking Task and Finish Group.

Recommendations

The Overview & Scrutiny Committee is recommended:

1.1         To note the work of the Car Parking Task and Finish group

1.2         To support the continuation of funding a Thames Valley Police PCSO from September 2019 to March 2021

1.3         To support & recommend to Executive the proposed Car Parking Strategy & Car Parking Action Plan

The Committee considered a report from the Assistant Director – Environmental Services which detailed the outcome of the Overview and Scrutiny Car Parking Task and Finish Group.

Following a suggestion regarding car parking as a possible subject for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review, a task and finish group was established in August 2018.

The group met four times between September 2018 and March 2019. During the course of the meetings the group received information from the Chief Operating Officer, the Assistant Director – Environmental Services, the Landscape Management and Street Scene Services Manager, and the Parking Services Assurance Officer.

The group reviewed performance data relating to the Council’s car parking management contract with the car parking provider Apcoa. The group   also discussed arrangements regarding decriminalisation of parking across the district, due to differences in existing arrangements across the district.

Consultation was also undertaken with Banbury BID, Bicester Vision and Kidlington Parish Council, to gather feedback and suggestions relating to the current car parking provision.

The group used the information from officers and feedback from consultation to inform a new car parking strategy and action plan, to cover the period from 2019 to 2023. The strategy sets out the Council’s approach to the development and provision of car parking across the district, with the action plan detailing actions and improvements to be made during the same four year period.

In response to questions from the Committee, the Assistant Director – Environmental Services explained that increased provision for the charging of electric vehicles was being looked at, as knowledge and experience was being built up through the use of the Council’s own electric fleet. However, issues regarding charging points of different sizes, the cost of installing cabling and risk and demand analysis would all need to be taken into consideration before any decisions were made regarding provision for the longer term.

With regard to a move away from payments for car parking being made in cash, the Assistant Director – Environmental Services explained that there had been an increase in contactless and payment by mobile phone, but the vast majority of payments were still made using cash. All payment equipment in Council owned car parks had the ability to accept cash, and there were no plans to change any of the equipment.

In response to questions regarding the timing of public consultation on the proposed strategy, the Chief Operating Officer explained that the Committee were making recommendations to Executive, and should Executive accept those recommendations the consultation survey would be launched following the Executive meeting. 

Resolved

(1)      That the work of the Car Parking Task and Finish group be noted.

(2)      That the continuation of funding a Thames Valley Police PCSO from September 2019 to March 2021 be supported.

(3)      That the proposed Car Parking Strategy & Car Parking Action Plan be supported, and recommended to Executive for approval.