Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Corporate Resources.

The Leader, Councillor Bialyk, presented the report.

During debate Councillor Wetenhall stated felt there had been a failure to consider alternatives to using the bus station as a car park. The space provided opportunity for a range of uses, and no discussion had been had with an interested party. Would like to note the failure to consider funding for the climate change team outside of building a car park.

Councillor Vizard agreed that this was the only idea that had been brought forward and came forward as part of budget discussions. The Net Zero Team were carrying out great work across a huge number of different areas. The report stated that there would be a loss of 500 parking spaces following the sale of the Mary Arches carpark, and this proposal would add 50 spaces. We do need to provide for business and make sure the city centre is accessible. He would like to see an alternative but at present it was lying empty.

Councillor Hughes welcomed the potential for accessible parking near St Sidwell’s Point as they had heard from the petitioners for Northbrook Pool that parking at SSP was an issue for them. It would be great if there were some disabled parking spaces;

Councillor Patrick considered this a pragmatic use of the space. Transitional processes were required whilst the public moved to active travel and public transport. This was a short term, temporary use and low cost to implement and did not prohibit other ideas for the future.

Councillor Moore raised that there was already a car park near the site and stated that in December 2024 the Executive agreed that in early 2025 a proposal would be brought forward for the development of this site. General Fund Report highlighted costs associated with the demolition of the bus station, roughly £46,000 spare. There was money available to turn it into a meanwhile use car park and meanwhile use gives up opportunity to explore other things on the site.

Councillor Ketchin asked if there was potential for different uses at weekends to week-day use.

Councillor Wright reiterated that she was an advocate for people and businesses in the city, who have concerns about the amount of parking in the city. Losing 500 parking spaces would have a knock-on effect on businesses in the city. She was not comfortable with the route taken by an interested party in raising their business plan.

Councillor Read raised her concern about using a car park to fund net zero. There was a car park nearby that wasn’t always full, and officer assessment said it was under capacity. There was no demonstrable need for another car park. Other councils such as Frome, and Barnstaple, have covered markets and she wondered why Exeter did not have one. Once the car park was established, there would be no way of guaranteeing that it would be a meanwhile use. If disabled spaces were needed, these should have been provided when SSP was built. She felt that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51