Agenda item

This report sets out the findings of the Car Parking Working Group which was established to undertake a Parking Review as part of the programme of planned service reviews reported to the Financial Policy Panel in July 2015.

The Committee:

(1)          Received and considered the findings of the Car Parking Working Group;

(2)          Agreed with the Car Parking Working Group’s recommendations as below that:

a)            Officers should conduct a study of blue badge usage within the rear of the Town Hall car park and, subject to the outcome, remove but to three blue badge bays;

b)            Subject to public consultation, the layout of Richards Fields car park should be altered to include a mix of residential permit parking and limited waiting bays for shoppers to visit the retail outlets in the area;

c)            In principle, if and when any annual permit schemes were introduced in Epsom and Ewell  Borough Council owned car parks in future, the charges should be aligned with Hook Road permit prices;

d)            Officers be authorised to allow the purchase of up to 15 permits in Court Recreation Group on a Monday to Friday basis for a price in line with the residents rate of £330 per year;

e)            Hook Road Car Park opening hours should not be extended and the current opening hours maintained;

(3)          Noted the changes to be made to the running of the car park service as outlined in the annexe subject to the Council’s Human Resources policies;

(4)          Agreed the following action to be undertaken by officers as a result of the review: namely:

a)            A review into the existing arrangements within the Kingston Road (Stoneleigh Parade) car park during 2017/18 (to be specifically undertaken by the Head of Property and Head of Legal and Democratic Services); the findings to be reported to a future meeting of the Committee;

b)            The introduction of signage identified during the Working Party tours, funded from current revenue budget allocation in 2016/17 and 2017/18;

c)            A review of the shopmobility service, the findings to be reported to a future meeting of the Community and Wellbeing Committee;

d)            A review of existing leading arrangements for car washing facilities in car parks by 30 September 2017;

e)            A review of the effectiveness of the moped introduced for on street parking with a business case for an additional moped to be carried forward as park of the budget requirement 2017/18;

f)             To pursue options for advertising in car parks during 2017/18;

g)            The investigation of potential site options for additional parking by the Council’s Place Development team and Head of Property.

The Committee received and considered a report which set out the findings of the Car Park Working Group. The Working Group had been established to undertake a parking review as part of the programme of planned service reviews reported to the Financial Policy Panel in July 2015.  The Chairman thanked Officers and Members for a thorough review.

The report highlighted proposals in relation to Blue Badge Bays, Richards Field, Annual Permit Schemes, Court Recreation Ground and Hook Road Car Park. It also highlighted a number of other actions flowing from the review.

The cross party Working Group had identified a parking strategy to promote Hook Road as a long stay car park, Upper High Street and Depot Road  as long to medium stay car parks, the Ashley Centre as a medium to short stay car park and the Town Hall and Hope Lodge as short stay car parks. Car park tariffs were set with the aim of promoting this strategy so that car parks were used for their designated purpose.

In response to concern regarding usage figures at the Ashley Centre Car Park, Officers stated that there was nothing to indicate that the charges were a significant factor in the parking trends. The proposals of the Working Group in relation to Richards Field were in response to complaints received from local residents and monitoring of its use. 

The Committee:

(1)          Received and considered the findings of the Car Parking Working Group;

(2)          Agreed with the Car Parking Working Group’s recommendations as below that:

a)            Officers should conduct a study of blue badge usage within the rear of the Town Hall car park and, subject to the outcome, remove but to three blue badge bays;

b)            Subject to public consultation, the layout of Richards Field car park should be altered to include a mix of residential permit parking and limited waiting bays for shoppers to visit the retail outlets in the area;

c)            In principle, if and when any annual permit schemes were introduced in Epsom and Ewell  Borough Council owned car parks in future, the charges should be aligned with Hook Road permit prices;

d)            Officers be authorised to allow the purchase of up to 15 permits in Court Recreation Ground on a Monday to Friday basis for a price in line with the residents rate of £330 per year;

e)            Hook Road Car Park opening hours should not be extended and the current opening hours maintained;

(3)          Noted the changes to be made to the running of the car park service as outlined in the annexe subject to the Council’s Human Resources policies;

(4)          Agreed the following action to be undertaken by officers as a result of the review: namely:

a)            A review into the existing arrangements within the Kingston Road (Stoneleigh Parade) car park during 2017/18 (to be specifically undertaken by the Head of Property and Head of Legal and Democratic Services); the findings to be reported to a future meeting of the Committee;

b)            The introduction of signage identified during the Working Party tours, funded from current revenue budget allocation in 2016/17 and 2017/18;

c)            A review of the shopmobility service, the findings to be reported to a future meeting of the Community and Wellbeing Committee;

d)            A review of existing leasing arrangements for car washing facilities in car parks by 30 September 2017;

e)            A review of the effectiveness of the moped introduced for on street parking with a business case for an additional moped to be carried forward as park of the budget requirement 2017/18;

f)             To pursue options for advertising in car parks during 2017/18;

g)            The investigation of potential site options for additional parking by the Council’s Place Development team and Head of Property.