Agenda item - Car Parking Order

Key Decision

Portfolio Holder: Deputy Leader (Outward), Councillor Helen-Ann Smith

a) that initiatives to support town centres and green travel including:

· providing a number of parking bays for free two hours parking and changes to car parking charges

· installing electric vehicle charging bays within a number of car parks

· alterations to the boundary of Piggins Croft Car Park, Hucknall

be approved.

b) that officers start undertaking preparations to commence the legal process for varying the existing Ashfield District Council Civil Enforcement Off Street Parking Order to enable the initiatives detailed at (a) above.

c) that £24,200 be allocated from the Regeneration Reserve to fund the costs associated with a new Parking Order, upgrading of parking machines and line marking for the two hour free bays.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS

A revised Parking Order will be required to implement the following changes to parking provision:

· Revise the current car parking charges and to provide up to two hours free parking in the three main town centre car parks within a number of designated and ‘marked out’ spaces only.

· The installation of electric vehicle charging points within a number of car parks within the District. This will support the development of the charging point network across Nottinghamshire, supporting increased use of electric vehicles and reducing air pollution.

· To increase the area covered by the Parking Order at Piggins Croft car park, Hucknall to include land acquired during the purchase of the property occupied by Wilkinson’s and Central Walk retail properties to ensure effective enforcement action can be undertaken when necessary.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REASONS FOR REJECTION

The option not to vary the Ashfield District Council Civil Enforcement Off Street Parking Order was not recommended as it would not allow the initiatives to support town centres and green travel.

The option to provide two hours free parking in all car parks was not recommended as the cost would be prohibitive. Additional costs would include alterations to seven ticket machines at an estimated cost of £14,000. There would also be significant loss of income from ticket sales, as total sales for two hour tickets in 2017 were £64,000.

The option not to introduce electric vehicle charging points was not recommended as all costs were being met through a grant secured by Nottingham City Council.

The Place Team Leader submitted a report seeking approval for a range of initiatives to support town centres and green travel and for the amendment of the Ashfield District Council Civil Enforcement Off Street Parking Order to enable their implementation.

The proposed initiatives included:

· providing a number of parking bays for free two hours parking and changes to car parking charges

· installing electric vehicle charging bays within a number of car parks

· alterations to the boundary of Piggins Croft Car Park, Hucknall

The Deputy Leader (Outward Focus) welcomed the recommendations to revise the current car parking charges and the introduction of spaces that would provide up to two hours free parking in the three main town centre car parks as this would encourage longer stays in the town centres which would in turn benefit town centre businesses. It was also noted that the proposed changes, with an increase in charges for all day parking would be revenue neutral for the Council. The Leader advised that the installation of the ten electric vehicle charging points would be carried out at no cost to the Council as grant funding had successfully been gained for this project and that their installation showed the Council’s commitment to a greener and cleaner Ashfield.

RESOLVED

a) that initiatives to support town centres and green travel including:

· providing a number of parking bays for free two hours parking and changes to car parking charges

· installing electric vehicle charging bays within a number of car parks

· alterations to the boundary of Piggins Croft Car Park, Hucknall

be approved.

b) that officers start undertaking preparations to commence the legal process for varying the existing Ashfield District Council Civil Enforcement Off Street Parking Order to enable the initiatives detailed at (a) above.

c) that £24,200 be allocated from the Regeneration Reserve to fund the costs associated with a new Parking Order, upgrading of parking machines and line marking for the two hour free bays.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS

A revised Parking Order will be required to implement the following changes to parking provision:

· Revise the current car parking charges and to provide up to two hours free parking in the three main town centre car parks within a number of designated and ‘marked out’ spaces only.

· The installation of electric vehicle charging points within a number of car parks within the District. This will support the development of the charging point network across Nottinghamshire, supporting increased use of electric vehicles and reducing air pollution.

· To increase the area covered by the Parking Order at Piggins Croft car park, Hucknall to include land acquired during the purchase of the property occupied by Wilkinson’s and Central Walk retail properties to ensure effective enforcement action can be undertaken when necessary.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REASONS FOR REJECTION

The option not to vary the Ashfield District Council Civil Enforcement Off Street Parking Order was not recommended as it would not allow the initiatives to support town centres and green travel.

The option to provide two hours free parking in all car parks was not recommended as the cost would be prohibitive. Additional costs would include alterations to seven ticket machines at an estimated cost of £14,000. There would also be significant loss of income from ticket sales, as total sales for two hour tickets in 2017 were £64,000.

The option not to introduce electric vehicle charging points was not recommended as all costs were being met through a grant secured by Nottingham City Council.