Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Chief Planning Officer on the progress made in preparing a policy to permit a number of cleared site commuter car parks

(Report attached)

The Panel considered the report of the Chief Planning Officer on the progress made in preparing a policy to permit a number of cleared site commuter car parks in the city centre. The Executive Board on 7^th September 2011 had approved the proposals to adopt the city centre commuter car parking policy as a material consideration in determining planning matters and a copy of that report was provided.

Officers reported the policy was intended to regularise existing car parking arrangements in return for reasonable physical improvements to the car parks. The Authority had placed a cap of 3,200 spaces to ensure that car usage for commuting did not increase.

The Panel commented on the scope of the map included in the Policy stating that informal commuter car parking occurred further into the suburbs, and that this would only be properly dealt with once adequate Park and Ride facilities were developed. The Panel broadly supported the Policy and noted that the comments on Park & Ride schemes would be reported back to the relevant officers as it was not within the scope of the Policy

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the contents of the report and the City Centre Commuter Car Parking Policy

b)  To note that the three month window for receipt of car park applications closes on 19 December 2011, after which officers will assess the schemes altogether and bring a single report to the Panel in early 2012