Agenda item

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Public Realm.

The report of the Assistant Director Public Realm was submitted, recommending that there should be no increase in parking tariffs until April 2015 at the earliest. The proposals also included the revocation of the present Parking Places Order and the making of a new Parking Places Order.

Councillor Baldwin spoke on this item under Standing Order no.44. Whilst she welcomed the freezing of charges until April 2015 she asked that the Council look again at the tariff for Topsham Quay Car Park. She commented that the current car park charges were too expensive, not in line with other district shopping centre car parks in the city and that Topsham Quay Car Park should be a long stay visitor’s car park. She advised that the Topsham Traders were intending to open on the four Sundays leading up to Christmas and requested that the Council allow free parking for these Sundays in the Topsham Quay Car Park.

The Portfolio Holder Economy and Culture commented that the Topsham Quay Car Park Working Group had not been able to agree on a way forward. She advised that the Council would be undertaking a review of parking in the city, this review to take a holistic approach to all parking. In the meantime, from now until Christmas parking would be free in all City Council-run Pay and Display car parks after 5pm with those paying for three hours in Pay and Displays on Sundays being able to get the rest of the day's parking free.

In response to a Members comment, the Portfolio Holder Economy and Culture

stated that without wishing to pre-empt the outcome of the Car Parks Review, it was evident that the use of the car parks at Howell Road and Parr Street has declined since the new tariffs were introduced and as a result, in addition to the recommendations in the report, it was proposed that Howell Road and Parr Street would revert to Tariff Band 3: Long Stay Visitors Car Parks when the Parking Order was sealed.

Members welcomed the freezing of car parking tariff until April 2015 as this would encourage visitors to the city and help to stimulate economic growth; the free parking proposed in the run up to Christmas; and the re-designation of Howell Road and Parr Street car parks to long stay car parks.

The Portfolio Holder City Development acknowledged the difficulties with parking in Topsham and supported the suggestion of the working group of increased and better signage of car parks. There was also a need to encourage the Topsham Traders to make use of alternative parking facilities and not park in valuable on street spaces that could be used by potential visitors.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)        no increase in the tariffs and charges shown in Annex A until April 2015 at the earliest be agreed;

(2)        the City of Exeter (Civil Enforcement Off Street Parking Places) Order 2012 be revoked and a new City of Exeter (Civil Enforcement Off Street Parking Places) Order 2014 be drafted and advertised, and officers be authorised to make all necessary operational and general amendments to the detail by way of clarification, as part of the Order;

(3)        the Order be amended to permit parking at the rear of the Civic Centre on all days and the times of parking be varied to favour customers visiting the Council offices;

(4)        the provisions in the Order concerning types of vehicle that may be parked in Council car parks to be amended and where necessary the boundaries of the car parks be clarified;

(5)        the provisions in the Order concerning types of Permit and conditions of use to be amended and Authority for determining the dates upon which Flexible Permits are to be available is delegated to the Assistant Director Public Realm in consultation with the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Economy and Culture;

(6)        authority be given for subsequent Amendments to the 2014 Order or later Orders to include the addition of parking places within the civil enforcement area is delegated to the Assistant Director Public Realm in consultation with the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Economy and Culture; 

(7)        authority to make limited experimental interventions within the scope of the City of Exeter (Civil Enforcement Off Street Parking Places) Orders be delegated to the Assistant Director Public Realm in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Economy and Culture;

(8)        authority to consider any objections to the proposed Order be delegated to the Assistant Director Public Realm in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Economy and Culture;

(9)        the Order be amended to permit Howell Road and Parr Street car parks to be designated as Tariff Band 3: Long Stay Visitors Car Parks; and

(10)      subject to consideration of any objections, the City of Exeter (Civil Enforcement Off Street Parking Places) Order 2014 be made and sealed.