Agenda item

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive.

(Report circulated)

Councillor Edwards declared a personal interest in the issue as an employee of Stagecoach Devon.

The report of the Assistant Chief Executive was submitted, asking Members to consider the proposals received in response to the Sustainable Communities Act 2007.  The Assistant Chief Executive informed members of the process which had been adopted to shortlist the proposals and that proposals supported by Executive would be submitted to the Local Government Association (LGA) Selector Panel for further consideration.

The Director Economy and Development advised members of his observations on the four proposals as outlined on the proposal summary forms. He also referred to further comments on the proposals which had recently been received from Devon County Council, the Transportation Authority.  In relation to the proposal that all buses in rural areas should be capable of carrying at least two bikes, concerns related particularly to safety and liability issues for damage and injury. A pilot scheme had experienced low take-up and high costs. With regard to the proposal to enable the Council to levy non-domestic rates on store car parking, he informed members that non-domestic rates were already charged on superstore parking but it appeared that the proposal was now to levy a separate tax on these spaces.  A proposal to introduce charging for out-of-town store parking nationally was floated in the late 1990s but was heavily opposed by the supermarket operators and subsequently dropped by the government. He also commented on the two other proposals which had not been supported by the Sustainable Communities Act (SCA) Panel for submission to the LGA at the present time. 

Members discussed the proposals submitted. They referred to the success of the Oyster card scheme in London as an example of how integrated transport could work but were advised that differences in the legislative control of transport in London and outside London made effective integration outside London very difficult to achieve.

Executive welcomed the introduction of the Sustainable Communities Act and the adoption of the process which had enabled local people to put forward ideas. Councillor Newton, who had chaired the SCA Panel, commented on the positive and productive nature of the meeting and her wish to encourage people to participate in the process. She considered the process would contribute to tackling political apathy and provided a genuine opportunity to engage communities in the development of ideas and services. The Leader referred to the poor turnout at elections and the Place Survey which had revealed a low percentage of people who felt they could influence decision-making. 

Whilst acknowledging that the proposals required further work on the detail and practical implications, Members considered that the two shortlisted proposals had considerable merit and should be supported by the Council for submission to the LGA Selector Panel.

Other members hoped that the Council could retain the enthusiasm of the Panel members and requested greater involvement of officers in future Panel meetings.

Executive resolved that:-

(1)        the views of the Sustainable Communities Act Panel in respect of the proposals submitted be noted;

(2)        the following two proposals made under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 be supported and submitted to the Local Government Association Selector Panel:

§         Bikes on rural buses

§         Non domestic rates on store car parking spaces

(3)        the proposals relating to parking tariffs and Integrated Transport be not submitted to the LGA Selector Panel, for the reasons indicated by the SCA Panel and stated in the report;

(4)        the proposers be requested to undertake further work on the Integrated Transport proposal; and

(5)        parking tariffs continue to be set through the established mechanism of the annual review process.

Councillor Edwards declared a personal interest in the issue as an employee of Stagecoach Devon.

The report of the Assistant Chief Executive was submitted, asking Members to consider the proposals received in response to the Sustainable Communities Act 2007.  The Assistant Chief Executive informed members of the process which had been adopted to shortlist the proposals and that proposals supported by Executive would be submitted to the Local Government Association (LGA) Selector Panel for further consideration.

The Director Economy and Development advised members of his observations on the four proposals as outlined on the proposal summary forms. He also referred to further comments on the proposals which had recently been received from Devon County Council, the Transportation Authority.  In relation to the proposal that all buses in rural areas should be capable of carrying at least two bikes, concerns related particularly to safety and liability issues for damage and injury. A pilot scheme had experienced low take-up and high costs. With regard to the proposal to enable the Council to levy non-domestic rates on store car parking, he informed members that non-domestic rates were already charged on superstore parking but it appeared that the proposal was now to levy a separate tax on these spaces.  A proposal to introduce charging for out-of-town store parking nationally was floated in the late 1990s but was heavily opposed by the supermarket operators and subsequently dropped by the government. He also commented on the two other proposals which had not been supported by the Sustainable Communities Act (SCA) Panel for submission to the LGA at the present time. 

Members discussed the proposals submitted. They referred to the success of the Oyster card scheme in London as an example of how integrated transport could work but were advised that differences in the legislative control of transport in London and outside London made effective integration outside London very difficult to achieve.

Executive welcomed the introduction of the Sustainable Communities Act and the adoption of the process which had enabled local people to put forward ideas. Councillor Newton, who had chaired the SCA Panel, commented on the positive and productive nature of the meeting and her wish to encourage people to participate in the process. She considered the process would contribute to tackling political apathy and provided a genuine opportunity to engage communities in the development of ideas and services. The Leader referred to the poor turnout at elections and the Place Survey which had revealed a low percentage of people who felt they could influence decision-making. 

Whilst acknowledging that the proposals required further work on the detail and practical implications, Members considered that the two shortlisted proposals had considerable merit and should be supported by the Council for submission to the LGA Selector Panel.

Other members hoped that the Council could retain the enthusiasm of the Panel members and requested greater involvement of officers in future Panel meetings.

RESOLVED that:-

(1)        the views of the Sustainable Communities Act Panel in respect of the proposals submitted be noted;

(2)        the following two proposals made under the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 be supported and submitted to the Local Government Association Selector Panel:

§         Bikes on rural buses

§         Non domestic rates on store car parking spaces

(3)        the proposals relating to parking tariffs and Integrated Transport be not submitted to the LGA Selector Panel, for the reasons indicated by the SCA Panel and stated in the report;

(4)        the proposers be requested to undertake further work on the Integrated Transport proposal; and

(5)        parking tariffs continue to be set through the established mechanism of the annual review process.

(Report circulated)