02/06/2015 - Parking Services

11
Management Committee
2 June 2015
Parking Services
For Decision
Briefholder(s)
Transport and Infrastructure
Director: Matt Prosser, Chief Executive
1. Purpose of Report
1.1.
•
•
To consider
A decision by Dorset County Council (DCC) to take back the Agency for the
operation of the On Street Parking Operation; and
A request from the hoteliers & residents of Brunswick Terrace to be allowed to
purchase annual car park permits.
2. Officer Recommendations
2.1.
To note the decision by DCC to take back the Agency for the operation of the
On Street Parking Operation
2.2.
To allow the hotels and the few residents in Brunswick Terrace to purchase
annual car park permits at £100 each.
•
Each hotel would be restricted to one permit for every three bedrooms.
•
The hotels would be restricted to use of the Lodmoor Country Park and
Swannery car parks.
3. Reasons for Recommendations
3.1.
On Street Parking Operation
3.2.
DCC are the Highway Authority and have the power to terminate the Agency
Agreement that has allowed Weymouth & Portland to operate the on street
parking enforcement service. It should be noted that DCC have given the
requisite 12 months notice of their intention and as such the Council has no
option but to agree to this.
3.3.
Brunswick Terrace
3.4.
It is recognised that available parking for residents of Brunswick Terrace is
limited. This is due to the location of the street in relation to Weymouth Bay
and the beach attracting many visitors and that parking is currently free of
charge. Furthermore, vehicles displaying a blue badge are exempt from the
restriction of the one hour limited waiting, which further limits the ability of the
hotels and residents to park in the street.
3.5.
Whilst there are no public car parks in the immediate vicinity of Brunswick
Terrace, the opportunity to park in either Lodmoor Country Park or the
Swannery may assist the hoteliers and their guests during the coming
summer season.
3.6.
The recommendation to allow them to purchase car park permits may assist
the hoteliers of Brunswick Terrace in the short term however a long term
solution needs to be investigated.
3.7.
It should be noted that this is not a quick process and the investigation would
require the hoteliers and residents to now approach DCC for a scheme to
resolve their issues.
3.8.
Prior to the termination of the Agency from DCC, the making of Traffic
Regulation Orders would have been undertaken by this Council but this will
now have to be dealt with by DCC.
4. Background Information
4.1.
On Street Parking Operation
4.2.
DCC have given authority to this Council to operate the Civil Parking
Enforcement of the roads in Weymouth and Portland under the powers of the
Traffic Management Act 2004 and prior to that under the Road Traffic
Regulation Act 1991 since 2002.
4.3.
For the last two years the County Council, having given notice to remove this
authority, has not acted upon this whilst the county wide parking project was
being developed. This project has not concluded its discussions and
negotiations, therefore the County Council has exercised its right to carry out
this service.
4.4.
A team of officers from parking, HR and finance are working together, headed
by Julie Strange, to ensure the transition back to the County is handled
correctly and conditions relating to TUPE for staff are followed. Staff and
Unions will be consulted as part of this process.
4.5.
Brunswick Terrace
4.6.
Brunswick Terrace is a cul-de-sac fronting Weymouth Bay with parking bays
marked along the Esplanade. The parking bays restrict on street parking
between the hours of 10.00am to 6.00pm to one hour with no return within
one hour from the 1June to 30 September.
4.7.
The length of road outside the properties has no waiting restrictions operating
between 10am and 6pm.
4.8.
The hoteliers / residents of Brunswick Terrace have approached this Council
regarding the issue of car parking and because there are no controls in place
that would assist in benefiting their guests and they claim that this is affecting
their business with potential bookings being lost. It should be noted that these
properties, except for one, do not have off street car parking provision.
4.9.
The hoteliers complain that parking space is rarely available due to the
amount of parked vehicles displaying a blue badge. It should be noted that
these vehicles are exempt from the restriction of limiting parking to one hour.
4.10. The parking situation facing the hoteliers of Brunswick Terrace is not helped
due to the area being quite isolated from any nearby public car parks.
1.9.
•
Lodmoor Country Park is some 11 to 15 minutes walk and the car park is
shut between midnight and 6am.
•
The Swannery is some 10 minutes walk.
The hoteliers have enquired if they could apply for permits in the same way
that other hoteliers have that allows their guests to park in certain car parks,
while a more long term solution is found.
5. Report
5.1.
On Street Parking Operation
5.2.
It should be noted that the decision to terminate the Agency Agreement has
not been influenced in any way by this Council’s performance, as everyone
agrees that this has been exemplarily and has in the recent past created a
small surplus.
5.3.
DCC and the other District Councils are still keen, and are continuing
dialogue, to allow the Countywide Joint Parking Service to be delivered by a
single host.
5.4.
It is still being proposed that Weymouth & Portland are to host the Countywide
Operation and further meetings are still scheduled to take place during June
regarding this.
5.5.
The reason for DCC’s decision to terminate the Agency Agreement is that the
wider County arrangement is taking longer to resolve than expected and in
the meantime DCC require the financial receipts that this service generates to
offset losses they are incurring in their county wide parking service.
5.6.
Brunswick Terrace
5.7.
A recent consultation of the hoteliers / residents of Brunswick Terrace
regarding the parking issues resulted in a 50% response. The findings
suggest that while they all believe that there is a significant issue, they were
not keen for Brunswick Terrace to be included in the existing Residents
parking Scheme (Park District).
5.8.
Subsequent discussions have seen a change of opinion as it has been
recognised that while not ideal this is the only realistic solution that will
provide more parking opportunities for them and their guests.
5.9.
Due to the time amendments to the Residents Parking Scheme will take, it will
not be possible to get the scheme designed, approved and implemented in
time for this coming summer season.
5.10. The hoteliers / residents have therefore enquired whether the Council would
consider allowing them to purchase car parking permits in the same way that
other hoteliers do who are located within a Residents Parking Zone.
6. Financial Implications
6.1.
On Street Parking Operation
6.2.
The implications of the cessation and handing back of the agency to DCC will
have financial implications and these have yet to be fully determined and will
be reported to a later meeting.
6.3.
Brunswick Terrace
6.4.
It should be noted that hotels that are located within a Residents Parking
Zone can apply for a Residents Parking Permit (£70 per annum). Following
complaints that there was not sufficient on street parking another permit was
introduced enables hotels to use certain car parks, e.g. Swannery and
Pavilion. (£100 per annum), therefore the proposal is in line with current
charging for other similar properties.
Other Considerations:
7. Legal/Statutory Power
7.1.
Weymouth and Portland Council have the powers under the Road Traffic
Regulation Act 1984 to issue parking permits within its car parks. DCC have
the similar powers under the same Act to introduce parking schemes on to the
public highway.
8. Human Resources (including Health & Safety)
8.1.
On Street Parking Operation
8.2.
There may well be TUPE implications in relation to the handing back of the
agency functions but these have yet to be fully investigated and again will be
reported back to a later meeting.
8.3.
Brunswick Terrace
8.4.
The issue of car park permits can be undertaken within existing resources.
9. Risk Management
9.1.
On Street Parking Operation
9.2.
There may be adverse financial implications but these have yet to be
quantified.
9.3.
Brunswick Terrace
9.4.
There is no risk involved
10.
Reputation, including Communications and Consultation
10.1. On Street Parking Operation
10.2. The public will again have two different sets of Officers dealing with traffic and
parking enforcement within the Borough.
10.3. Brunswick Terrace
10.4. Any long term proposal for Brunswick Terrace would require DCC to
undertake a detailed scheme assessment.
11.
Equalities - None
12.
Crime and Disorder - None
13.
Environmental Considerations
13.1. Brunswick Terrace
13.2. There is a delicate balance that needs to be protected with regard
environmental living conditions of the hoteliers and residents of Brunswick
Terrace and the volume of visitors parking in the street.
14.
Economic Impact Assessment
14.1. Brunswick Terrace
14.2. The hoteliers believe that this proposal will have a beneficial impact on their
businesses.
15.
Corporate Plan (links to corporate aims & priorities)
15.1. On Street Parking Operation
15.2. The delivery of parking service through two separate organisations will be
perceived to be more fragmented by the public.
15.3. Brunswick Terrace
15.4. It is suggested that this proposal supports the Council’s objective to assist
small businesses to grow especially through a recession and the subsequent
recovery period.
16.
17.
Appendices - None
Background Documents - None
Report Author & Contact: Jack Creeber
Telephone: 8349
Email: j.creeber@westdorset-weymouth.gov.uk