Agenda item - Preston Village & Balfour Road area resident parking scheme consultations

Report of the Executive Director, Environment, Economy & Culture (copy attached).

2.1         That the Committee approves:

(a)          That a new resident parking scheme (Monday to Friday 9am-8pm) be considered within the Preston Village area (Appendix B) and that this proposal be progressed to the final design with the Traffic Order advertised to allow further comment.

(b)          That an extension to the Area F resident parking scheme (Monday to Sunday 9am-8pm) be considered within the Balfour Road area (Appendix A) and that this proposal be progressed to the final design with the Traffic Order advertised to allow further comment.

(c)          That an order should be placed for any required pay and display equipment to ensure implementation of the new proposed parking scheme (if agreed at a further committee meeting) is undertaken as programmed. 

64.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that set out the outcome of the recent public consultation undertaken for a proposed parking scheme in the Balfour Road area and Preston Village area and requested permission to proceed.

64.2      Councillor Miller stated that he felt individuals rather than households should be able to respond to the consultation as there may be a difference of views.

64.3      The Parking Infrastructure Manager stated that one purpose of such an approach was that the council could only guarantee one permit per household at the outset of any scheme consultation. Furthermore, it would be unfair for a five person household to have a more significant representation to a consultation than a single person household when both households would have the same parking capability in the area.

64.4      Councillor Wares asked if there would be any impact from the three local schools as this issue had previously been raised and was not mentioned in the report.

64.5      The Parking Infrastructure Manager clarified that should the scheme be approved, the schools would be eligible for one permit for every six members of staff and some schools in the area had off-street parking which would be taken into account. In addition each school would also be entitled to two business permits.

64.6      Councillor Wares asked if officers were satisfied that there would be sufficient spaces for residents, teachers and school staff.

64.7      The Parking Infrastructure Manager responded that it was always difficult to determine a precise capacity for a proposed controlled parking zone as it would depend on take-up once the scheme was operational. Furthermore, there would be a limit on permits per school and a pay and display system was under consideration for the top end of Balfour Road where there were less residential properties.

64.8      Councillor Nemeth asked officers if they had any view as to why the consultation results indicated a preference for a full scheme rather than a light touch scheme.

64.9      The Parking Infrastructure Manager clarified that this could be due to several reasons including a view on how the nearby Fiveways scheme had worked or that a full scheme was preferable as there was increased enforcement.

64.10   Councillor Janio asked if there was any statutory guidance requiring that households were consulted rather than individuals.

64.11   The Parking Infrastructure Manager replied that this was reflected in the local Highways consultation policy.

64.12   The Legal Officer supplemented that if reviewed by the courts, the council’s consultation approach would be deemed over and above what was necessary. The council, through its own policies, had introduced an additional stage of consulting with householders that was not required by legislation. The Legal Officer added that there was also a second stage to the consultation in the advertising of the necessary Traffic Order to which any individual could make objection or support and those representations were returned to the committee for consideration.

64.13   RESOLVED- That the Committee approves:

(a)          That a new resident parking scheme (Monday to Friday 9am-8pm) be considered within the Preston Village area (Appendix B) and that this proposal be progressed to the final design with the Traffic Order advertised to allow further comment.

(b)          That an extension to the Area F resident parking scheme (Monday to Sunday 9am-8pm) be considered within the Balfour Road area (Appendix A) and that this proposal be progressed to the final design with the Traffic Order advertised to allow further comment.

(c)          That an order should be placed for any required pay and display equipment to ensure implementation of the new proposed parking scheme (if agreed at a further committee meeting) is undertaken as programmed.