Agenda item

To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development attaching reports from the Directors of Environment and Neighbourhoods and City Development for the first session of the Board’s inquiry on Residents Parking Schemes.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which outlined the agreed terms of reference for the Inquiry on Resident Parking Schemes and the issues to be discussed at Session One of the Board’s inquiry.

Attached to the main report was a report from the Chief Environmental Services Officer which provided the Board with an overview of the administrative and enforcement processes involved with Resident Parking Schemes.  Also attached was a report from the Director of City Development which outlined the process and procedures that were applied for the installation of resident parking schemes.

Comments received from Members on  parking “hot spots” and comments and requests for resident parking schemes were tabled at the meeting and had previously been circulated to Members by email.  The Chair reported that no comments had to date been received from Members of the Labour Group as he understood that it wished to discuss this issue prior to Members submitting their comments to the Board.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Jean Dent, Director of City Development, Howard Claxton, Traffic Engineering Manager, City Development, Andrew Mason, Chief Environmental Services Officer, Environment and Neighbourhoods, Graham Wilson, Head of Environmental Action, Environment and Neighbourhoods and Helen Franklin, Acting Head of Highways Services, City Development.

The Head of Environmental Action presented the report of the Chief Environmental Services Officer and the Acting Head of Highways Services, along with the Traffic Engineering Manager, presented the report of the Director of City Development.

In summary, the following issues were raised:

·  The current arrangements for residents parking in Leeds including the  application process and rationale for a new residents parking schemes.

·  Length of time from application to completion for resident parking schemes.

·  The cost of resident parking schemes.

·  The suggestion that resident permit parking schemes be made self financing by charging for permits on an annual basis instead of issuing them free for three years.  Officers were requested to address this and provide details of authorities who charged resident parking fees in Session Two.

·  The suggestion of limiting the number of permits per household - Officers advised that issues surrounding this would be provided in the next report to the Board at session two of the inquiry.

·  The suggestion that residents be given the option to fund such schemes themselves to avoid the Council’s waiting list and how revenue could be raised to offset the cost to residents by releasing spaces during the day for pay and display when they were at work ie “Dual Use” – Officers confirmed that they would report on this at Session Two of the Board’s inquiry.

·  The suggestion that Leeds should be monitoring and withdrawing residents parking schemes much more than at present.  Officers agreed to report back to Session Two of the Board’s inquiry.

·  The dispensation arrangements for family events in RPPS.

·  Fraudulent use of resident parking permits - Officers to bring back any available figures on this to the next meeting of the Board.

The Board agreed that the relevant Executive Board Member should be invited to Session Two of the Board’s Inquiry, as would Elected Members who had provided the Board with their comments on resident parking schemes.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That a report be presented to Session Two of the Scrutiny Inquiry in accordance with the agreed Terms of Reference.

(b)  That the additional information referred to above be provided by Officers to Session Two of the Board’s Inquiry.

(c)  That the Executive Board Member for Environmental Services be invited to attend Session Two of the Board’s Inquiry.

(d)  That the Chair be authorised to invite appropriate Elected Members  to attend Session Two of the Board’s Inquiry who had commented on or who had “hotspots” within their Ward.

(Note: Councillor R Procter and the Director of Development, both left the meeting at 11.30am during the consideration of this item.)