Agenda item - Public Involvement

To consider the following matters raised by members of the public:

(a)           Petitions: To receive any petitions presented by members of the public;

(b)           Written Questions: To receive any questions submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 31 January 2024;

(c)           Deputations: To receive any deputations submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 31 January 2024.

(A)          Petitions

(1)           Parking Permits for residents of Ansty Close

61.1      The Committee considered a petition signed by 5 people requesting parking permits for Ansty Close.

61.2      The Chair provided the following response:

“I am sorry to hear of problems you are experiencing. What you describe is clearly frustrating and there seems to be some taking advantage of the lack of parking restrictions in your cul de sac. I have asked officers to review options.

Resident parking schemes are area based and cannot comprise of individual roads. We would need support from a wider area in order to link Ansty Close to an existing residents parking scheme or to become a new residents parking scheme.

I will ask council officers to look at other ways to address this parking challenge. This may include more frequent enforcement to check all vehicles parking on the public highway are taxed and insured and asking drivers of trade vehicles to be more considerate of residents’ parking and access needs when parking”.

61.3      Councillor Davis moved a motion to call for an officer report.

61.4      Councillor Bagaeen formally seconded the motion.

61.5      The Chair put the motion to the vote that failed.

61.6      Resolved- That the Committee note the petition.

(2)           Stop removing parking spaces from Zone M

61.7      The Committee considered a petition signed by 32 people requesting the council stop removing parking spaces in Zone M.

61.8      The Chair provided the following response:

“I am familiar with Zone M. When Zone M was introduced more than two decades ago, there was not a parking zone to the north or west, meaning drivers would routinely park in nearby roads such as Somerhill and Holland roads north of Lansdowne Road for example. Later, parking zones were introduced in all areas surrounding Zone M, effectively boxing this permitted area in. 

Therefore, it is my view that this is more a problem with the capacity of Zone M parking zone rather than providing more facilities such as bike hangers that use parking spaces per say. Zone M maybe, therefore, too small for the demand with no overspill option. As an incoming new Labour administration, we soon recognised that our citywide parking is not entirely fit for purpose having evolved over several decades without sufficient strategic and policy oversight. The anti-car policies of the Green administration did not help with proposed parking tariff hikes. We reversed these hikes in July and instigated a strategic parking review. Parking needs to be fair and equitable, simpler, accessible, inclusive and work well for residents, communities and businesses for the prosperity of our city. This review will include the number of parking spaces and size of Zone M.

The costs of permits are determined through the annual budget process and the fees & charges proposals for 24/25 are being discussed later on in this meeting”.

61.9      Resolved- That the Committee note the petition.