Agenda item

Simon Walters, Director for Communities and Environment provided a brief introduction to the Parking Strategy and Delivery Plan and circulated a set of notes from the recent all member workshop for information.

Toby Forbes-Turner, Planning Policy Manager:

a.    presented a summary of the Parking Strategy and Delivery Plan to seek views from Policy Scrutiny Committee prior to consideration by Executive

b.    advised that the delivery plan set out parking service priorities and policies to be delivered by the Council over the next 5 years

c.     explained that the Strategy focussed on off-street parking provision in the Council car parks, but also covered the City Council's role with on-street residents parking

d.    gave an overview of the parking strategy review process which included the measures delivered from the previous car parking strategy agreed in 2015, factors that had changed since 2015 and how these factors had helped to scope the review of the Strategy. The agreed key issues were set out at paragraph 5.4 of the report

e.    referred to paragraph 6 of the report and advised on the future mobility work shop that had taken place, which had helped to identify how space could be repurposed or optimised to cater to changing use needs and respond to pressures brought on by the climate emergency

f.      summarised the stakeholders’ engagement, public consultation and member engagement that had been undertaken during development of the strategy and delivery plan

g.    outlined the key implications on the parking strategy moving forward as detailed at paragraph 10 of the report

h.    highlighted the aims and strategic objectives of the strategy as detailed at paragraph 11 of the report

i.      explained that it was proposed to review the action plan annually together with a light touch review of the overall strategy every three years

j.      invited members questions and comments.

The Chair requested that the work shop notes that had been circulated to members be included with the agenda on the website.

Question: Had any progress been made to address the difficulties with the payment machine at Tentercroft Street car park?

Response: This would be addressed by the relevant Officer in due course. The issue was that the Wi-Fi for the payment machine was sometimes intermittent during busy periods.

Question: Would automated number plate recognition be introduced at car parks with the ability to pre-book parking spaces?

Response: This was an aspiration that would be looked at as part of the strategy over the next 5 years. The technology at the car parks would need updating. The first step would be to move to an automated number plate recognition system at the Central Car Park which would photograph number plates on entry and then once the parking had been paid a barrier would be used to exit the car park.

Question: Would signage to advise when the Central Car Park was full be installed?

Response: Talks were ongoing with Lincolnshire County Council Highways to establish where signs could be installed.

Question: Had consideration been given to install electric vehicle charging points in disability bays? Perhaps they could be lower for wheelchair users.

Response: A strategic approach had been taken to installing electric vehicle charging points across the City over the last few years. Consideration would be given to installing electric vehicle charging points in disabled bays.

Question: Would the number of disabled bays in car parks be reviewed? Some car parks did not have any disabled bays.

Response: Yes, Officers continually monitored and reviewed how disabled bays were being used across the car parks. Where there were not any disabled bays provided at car parks there was provision of disabled on-street parking nearby.

Question: What percentage of car park users used the pay by phone app?

Response: The figure for the percentage of people using the pay by phone app would be circulated following the meeting. The Council did encourage people to use the app, however, the option to pay by cash would always be available.

Question: Could clarification be provided as to which authority was responsible for residents parking?

Response:  Lincolnshire County Council was responsible for authorising applications for residents parking. The running of the scheme was delegated to City of Lincoln Council. However, it was Lincolnshire County Councils responsibility to enforce the scheme.

RESOLVED that the Parking Strategy and Delivery Plan be supported.