Agenda item - Individual Disabled Bays

Report of the Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

That the Committee approve the proposal that the council provide permit specific disabled persons parking bays subject to the criteria and charges set out in this report.

31.1         The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing that set out the results of a review into the possibility of offering Individual Disabled Bays to residents within Brighton & Hove and requested approval to proceed with the scheme.

31.2         Councillor Simson asked if the bays would be enforceable.

31.3         The Parking Infrastructure Manager confirmed that they would be within Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ’s) and a telephone number would be provided to users to report contraventions for outside CPZ’s.

31.4         Councillor Sykes asked how many individual bays were estimated to be provided if permission to proceed was granted.

31.5         The Parking Infrastructure Manager replied that his expectation was for twenty to be taken up at first although this figure was likely to be a lot higher as more people became aware of the scheme.

31.6         The Chair asked if the cost figures outlined in the report included officer time.

31.7         The Parking Infrastructure Manager replied that officer time would not be included in the application cost and that the figures outlined included expenditure to conduct the work only.

31.8         Councillor Simson enquired as to the general reaction to the proposed cost of application for members of the public.

31.9         The Parking Infrastructure Manager clarified that the reaction had been mixed. Some people believed the proposed costs represented value for money for a dedicated, individual bay, others thought the costs expensive.

31.10    Councillor Mitchell moved a motion to amend recommendation 2.1 and add a further recommendation 2.2 as shown in bold italics:

2.1             That the Committee approve the proposal that the council provide permit specific disabled persons parking bays subject to the criteria and charges set out in this report and subject to 2.2 below.

2.2             That the overall cost of the application is capped at £55 in recognition of the fact that many people with disabilities and in receipt of Mobility Allowance and high rate Attendance Allowance are living on low, fixed rate incomes. 

31.11    Councillor Robins formally seconded the motion.

31.12    Councillor Mitchell stated that whilst she welcomed the report basic proposals, the Labour & Co-operative Group believed the cost of the application was too high as many people with disabilities and in receipt of a higher rate benefit would be living on low, fixed rate incomes. Councillor Mitchell added that the authority received substantial parking income and it would be a good gesture to some of that to reduce the cost of the application to help those who needed it.

31.13    Councillor Hawtree stated that he would be keen to support the motion but would like clarification on whether such a scheme could be affordable.

31.14    The Head of Transport clarified that affordability was dependent upon uptake. If the expected figure of twenty bays were taken up, this would result in a four figure loss to the authority. If demand and uptake increased, this figure would naturally be a lot higher. The Head of Transport stated that it was down to Members to decide the affordability of the measures proposed in the motion.

31.15    Councillor Cox stated that it was difficult to make any assessment of the potential impact upon the authority with accompanying financial implications. Councillor Cox added that he would like the Labour & Co-operative Party to identify where to find the loss stipulated within the motion from the council’s budget.

31.16    Councillor Robins stated that the cost of 20 bays would actually be £890. Councillor Robins added that even if 200 bays were taken up, this would cost £8,900 which was a small figure to help the disadvantaged.

31.17    Councillor Davey stated that the scheme was a real innovation, would help disabled people and was a positive outcome of the City Parking Review. Councillor Davey stated he fully expected that there would be a much higher take-up of the bays than twenty and he was concerned that to accept the Labour & Co-operative motion would place enormous financial pressure on the ability to maintain and co-ordinate the project. Councillor Davey also believed the charges to be fair for the amount of work required.

31.18    Councillor Sykes stated that the costs were not significant in the overall charges of operating a car. It was his view that applicants would be forthcoming and that the £100 cost of application was not unfair.

31.19    With regard to the Labour & Co-operative Group motion, Councillor Theobald stated that the Mobility Allowance and the Attendance Allowance were not means-tested benefit therefore; to reduce the cost of application to £55 would not benefit the disadvantaged alone.

31.20    Councillor Mitchell stated her disappointment that the motion was not supported highlighting the relatively low number of applicants and that advertising could be incorporated into other traffic order notices. Councillor Mitchell added that the figure the council would lose was relatively low and would help the most disadvantaged.

31.21    The Chair stated that he was concerned about the financial implications of reducing the application fee and that he was mindful that those who could apply were already entitled to a disabled bay and this was an optional measure to correct problems.

31.22    The Chair then put the motion to a vote with the following outcome:

For: 5

Against: 5

Abstentions: 0

31.23    Therefore the motion was not carried.

31.24    The Chair then put the recommendations detailed in the report to the vote with the following outcome:

For: 10

Against: 0

Abstentions: 0

31.25    RESOLVED- That the Committee approve the proposal that the council provide permit specific disabled persons parking bays subject to the criteria and charges set out in this report.