Supplementary report in response to the scrutiny of the call-ins of the decision made by Cabinet on 17 January 2024, to follow

Lead Member – Councillor Dan Morris – Portfolio Holder for Highways

Report of Andy Wilde – Assistant Director - Infrastructure

RESOLVED:

To agree the recommendations 1-7 as set out in the report (NB these are too lengthy to include in the decision list so please see pages 3-5 of the report for recommendations here).

The Portfolio Holder for Highways introduced the report which set out the revised recommendations following a call in of the original proposal which was brought to Cabinet in January.

The report considered issues raised by Scrutiny Committee in relation to the original report. Members noted that there was no formal minute as yet but the issues they asked to be re-examined were:

a)          Compatibility with the Shrewsbury Movement and Public Space Strategy and current strategies in relation to graduation of parking charges in Shrewsbury according to proximity to the town centre.

b)          Why there is no increase at Raven Meadows Multi-Storey Car Park

c)          The effect on the economy

d)          Risks related to the Park and Ride service

e)          The use of surplus income from the Parking Service

f)             Maintenance history and arrangements

g)          Consultation methods

h)          The parking charge Band applied to Wem

i)            The necessity for and potential changes to Evening parking charges in Shrewsbury

j)            The necessity for and potential changes to Sunday parking charges throughout Shropshire.

k)          The potential for parking to be displaced into neighbouring areas

The Portfolio Holder presented a summary of the revised recommendations:

1.          Wherever the original recommendation was to use a Notice of Variation it has been changed to a notice of proposal to make a Traffic Regulation Order, which includes a consultation/objection period.

2.          ‘Evening Charges’ are now capped at £1.00 during any period between 6pm and 10pm

3.          The Sunday Charge where charges are to be introduced is capped at the normal charge for 1 hour.

4.          The new charge at Abbey Foregate will be £0.80 per hour.

5.          The new charge at Raven Meadows multi-storey car park will be £2.40

6.          Evening Charges will apply to Abbey Foregate and St Julians Friars as per 2. above

Concerns were expressed that the proposed increases were excessive and disproportionate, and the effects the proposed increases would have on towns outside Shrewsbury.

The Portfolio Holder advised that there will be a revamp of the parking strategy and the bands of parking will be looked at as part of that.

RESOLVED:

To agree the recommendations 1-7 as set out below:

Recommendation 1 (in twelve parts) – parking tariffs

3.1      Cabinet is requested to approve advertisement of Traffic Regulation Orders for consultation on each of the twelve items shown in Table A and the subsequent   consideration of objections and making of the Orders if appropriate in accordance with the delegation to the Assistant Director of Infrastructure set out in Part 8 of the Council’s Constitution.

3.2   Table A

A decision of Cabinet made on 17 January 2024 with regard to Parking Tariffs, Operations & Development has been called in by the Labour Group and Liberal Democrat Group.

The Economy and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee is asked to consider the decision taken.  The following appendices to the covering report by the Scrutiny Manager are attached, or to follow:

Appendix 1a – Call in notice – Labour Group

Appendix 1b – Call in notice – Liberal Democrat Group

Appendix 2 –   Report to Cabinet

Appendix 3a – Supplementary Information – Service (to follow)

Appendix 3b – Supplementary Information – Legal [exempt]  (to follow)

Appendix 3c – Representations received (to follow)

Appendix 4 –  Call in Procedure

Lead Member – Councillor Dan Morris – Portfolio Holder for Highways

Report of Andy Wilde – Head of Highways

RESOLVED:

To agree the recommendations 1-7 as set out in the report (NB these are too lengthy to include in the decision list so please see pages 2-4 of the report for recommendations here).

The Portfolio Holder for Highways presented the report which sought approval to introduce new and additional tariffs in Shropshire (but mainly in Shrewsbury), preparation of a new Council Parking Strategy, a review of Parking Services’ structure and preparation of a car park Maintenance and Improvement Plan.

Members were informed that the increase in fees were not part of the budget saving as any revenue must go back into the parking budget.

Concern was expressed that no consultation had taken place and that the increases were large, especially with regards to season tickets. Other parking options such as the park and ride ceased operating at 6pm and the proposals would see charges in the town extend until 8pm. It was felt that this proposal did not support the Shrewsbury Movement and Public Realm Strategy which had just been approved. It was suggested that this item be deferred until consultation had taken place.

RESOLVED:

To agree the recommendations 1-7 as set out in the report as follows:

Recommendation 1 (In twelve parts)

3.1       Cabinet is recommended to approve the increases set out for each of the twelve tariffs set out in Table A below, to be introduced by notice under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“RTRA”). 

3.2   Table A 

Recommendation 2 (In five parts) 

3.3   Cabinet is recommended to approve the associated increases set out for each of the five season ticket tariffs set out in Table B below, to be introduced by notice under the RTRA 1984. 

3.4       Table B 

Recommendation 3 (In nine parts) 

3.5       Cabinet is recommended to approve the associated increases set out for each of the nine resident permit tariffs set out in Table C below, to be introduced by notice under the RTRA 1984. 

3.6       Table C 

Lead Member – Dan Morris – Portfolio Holder for Highways

Report of Andy Wilde – Head of Highways

REPORT TO FOLLOW

This item was deferred to the next meeting.