Agenda item

Update of implementation of recommendations from York Residents' Priority parking Scheme Scrutiny Review

This report provides Members with their first update on the implementation of the approved recommendations arising from the scrutiny review into York’s Residents’ Priority Parking Scheme.

Minutes:

Members considered a report which provided their first update on the implementation of the approved recommendations from the scrutiny review into York’s Residents’ Priority Parking (Respark) Scheme.

The recommendations had originally been approved by Executive on 18 March 2019.  At their meeting on 28 November 2019, Executive had approved further proposals to address issues identified in the review, as set out in paragraph 6 of the report.  Details of progress made against each review recommendation were provided in Annex 1 and the report to Executive was attached at Annex 2.  The Chair of the Task Group, Cllr D’Agorne (now Executive Member for Transport) was in attendance.  Members were invited either to sign off the recommendations as fully implemented or to request a further update.

Members asked a series of questions on matters relating to the review and to parking in general.  Officers and the Executive Member responded as follows:

·        The current timescale for Respark requests, from receipt of a petition to implementation, was 12-18 months.

·        The aim was to reduce this, with the additional resources allocated in June, a more flexible approach to consultation, and fast-tracking of requests where appropriate.

·        However, where residents of individual streets within an area did not want Respark, this had to be taken into account.

·        Concerning whether there could be any reduction in the cost of respark to resident parking schemes as a result of the measures (for example technical improvements) being looked at, the cost was determined by the annual budget and it was acknowledged that the cost was high compared to other areas such as North Yorkshire and Sheffield. It was recognised that the introduction of a new system would take time to embed and would potentially increase efficiencies. It was not presumed that this would make savings of a sufficient magnitude to make a big cut in the cost and unfortunately with government cuts and the amount received as an authority, the total budget from parking was a key element in the overall budget. Without this additional money this would mean making deeper cuts or increasing charges elsewhere. The council wanted to improve efficiencies and regarding the passing on of any efficiency savings to residents was not deemed a priority in the review of repark. 

·        With regard to non-internet users, officers were working through a wide range of permit types, including Respark, to determine a ‘digitally deprived’ solution for each before reporting the results to the Executive Member for Transport.

·        Parking issues, including encouraging the use of Park & Ride, council car parks and buses, needed to be examined in the process of refreshing the Local Transport Plan (LTP).

·        The concepts of parking charges based on individual vehicle emissions and workplace parking levies, as introduced in some cities, could also be explored in the LTP refresh.

 

Resolved:  (i)      That the content of the report be noted.

                   (ii)      That a further update be received in 6 months’ time.

Reason:     To ensure that all recommendations from the review have been fully implemented.

 

Supporting documents:

 

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