Agenda item

In accordance with Scrutiny Board Procedure Rules, to review a Delegated Decision Notification regarding the Review of Parking Fees

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented the background papers to a decision which had been Called In in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.  The decision was a Delegated Decision Notice of the Parking Manager regarding the Review of Parking Fees.

The Chair welcomed the following to the meeting:

·  Councillor M Lobley – Signatory to the Call In

·  Councillor M Dobson – Executive Member for Environmental Services

·  Andrew Mason – Chief Officer, Environmental Services

·  Graham Wilson, Environmental Health Manager

·  Mark Jefford, Parking Manager

Councillor Lobley outlined the reasons for the Call In of the decision.  These included the following:

• Lack of detail in the report – that the aims of this particular review were unclear within the report and also lacked sufficient supporting evidence
• Concern that no consultations with Ward Members and/or other stakeholders had been carried out at that stage (as stated in the report)
• There was no mention of background information or surveys to show the impact on traffic flow given that prices had been set for traffic management reasons.
• That this review of parking fees was being taken prior to, and in isolation of, the wider Parking Strategy, which was due to be considered by Executive Board in September.
• Concern regarding the issue of a press release surrounding the revised parking charges prior to the end of the scrutiny call-in period.

A submission from Councillor A Carter was also submitted to the Board and read out at the meeting.  This reiterated the points raised by Councillor Lobley and also made reference to previous discussions at Executive Board that a detailed and fully consulted set of proposals would be submitted for Executive Board to consider and concern that Elected Members were not fully involved in the decision making process.

In response to the concerns raised, Officers present raised the following issues:

• That the Executive Board agreed in February 2011 that income budgets would rise by 3%. It was also acknowledged by the Executive Board that the Directorate would undertake a review of car parking prices and tariff bandings for both on street and off street parking across the city, which would be implemented through a delegated decision, with at least a 3% increase assumed.
• Leeds City Council was only responsible for 20% of parking across the City and a clear and competitive approach to pricing had been adopted with a view to generating an extra 3% income.
• Prices introduced aimed to encourage people to shop in the City Centre.
• Consultation had taken place with colleagues involved in Transport and Highways with consideration given to traffic flow and demand.
• In reference to concerns regarding the lack of consultation, it was reported that there was ongoing work in reference to looking at parking provision in the wider context of transport needs for the City and this would be reported to Executive Board in September.
• The Executive Member was fully informed of the proposals as they were developed on a site by site basis.

Councillor Dobson, Executive Member for Environmental Services addressed the Board.  He referred to the review of the pricing structures under the terms agreed by the Executive Board in February 2011 and the broader piece of work to be undertaken regarding the Car Parking Strategy, which would be more widely consulted on with Elected Member involvement.  Further reference was also made to the concerns regarding the press release, which aimed to provide a more broad and accurate position on the current situation rather than on this specific decision..

In response to Members comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

• Concern that the Delegated Decision Notice did not make reference to consultations with other Council Departments – it was acknowledged that this would be considered in future.
• No evidence submitted in respect of traffic management regulations – there had been work with colleagues in Transport and Planning and this would also support the Transport Strategy.
• Lack of reference to the Executive Board report of February 2011.
• Pricing rates for individual car parks.
• Concern that opportunity for further consultation was not taken.

Councillor Lobley was invited to summarise the reasons for calling in the decision and reiterated his earlier comments with an emphasis on the quality of the delegated decision notice and lack of reference to the Executive Board report of February 2011.

In summary, Councillor Dobson agreed that the delegated decision notice could have had more information and that this will be addressed in future reports.  However, it was felt that the work undertaken had been extensive and robust enough to justify the decision.

Members were asked to consider the options available to them.