Agenda item

To receive a report from the Director of City Development and Director of Communities and Environment in response to the Board’s request to discuss the wider context for city centre parking strategy in terms of impacts on parking in the city centre “fringe” areas and inner communities with respect to concerns about “overspill” parking and driver behaviours.

The report of the Director of City Development and the Director of Communities and Environment, provided an overview of city centre parking provision within the context of planning policy, the transport strategy for Leeds and the operation of city centre car parking; further outlining the general approach to the management of on-street car parking in areas surrounding the city centre and outside the main city centre controlled parking management area.

The following were in attendance for this item:

o  Councillor M Rafique, Executive Member for Environment and Active Lifestyles

o  Andrew Hall, Head of Transport Planning

o  Jason Singh, Head of Service, Environmental Action

o  Mark Jefford, Service Manager Environmental Services

Key issues identified in discussions with the Board included:

·  Members sought further information on the legal process and timescales on implementation of schemes. Members were informed there had been issues around employment, and that main priorities focused on road and traffic safety. Members were informed of the representation process and that these could add additional time on the regulatory timescales 6-9 months.

·  Members discussed traffic order offences and sought information on the existing schemes that had taken place and suggested that measureable information is brought to a future scrutiny board meeting.

·  Members recognised the difficulties in managing traffic offences with schools. Officers highlighted staffing issues and the complexities of monitoring 110 schools. It was noted that there is an enforcement vehicle responding to parking reports. Furthermore, Members heard that officers were looking at introducing informal ‘no idling’ zones.

·  Members felt that it would be helpful for Elected Members to be issued a key point of contact to be able to raise any issues during out of hours.

·  A Member sought additional information in regard to a parking scheme in their ward, and requested that details on the consultation round and delivery of the scheme be provided, as well as suggesting a meeting with Ward Councillors to discuss the scheme in further detail.

·  In relation to the transport strategy, officers explained that a balanced approach had been taken outside of the city centre, in an attempt to encourage public transport, with particular references made to the use and expansion of park and ride schemes.

·  It was noted that the Transport Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) is in its final stages and that Members would be able to submit their comments in due course.

·  Members’ discussion focused on residents parking schemes, and agreed the strategy should include additional information on outer and inner areas. Members requested for further information to be brought back to a future meeting and that the additional paper focuses on Members concerns.

The Chair thanked those officers in attendance.

RESOLVED – The Scrutiny Board (Environment, Housing and Communities):

a)  Noted the contents of the report.

b)  Requested that the information provided during discussion be provided to the Board.

c)  Requested that, in discussion with the Chair, a further progress report be presented to a future meeting of the Board, subject to consultation with the Scrutiny Board Chair (Infrastructure, Investment and Inclusive Growth) on the remit of the matter.

Councillor Bentley arrived at 10:50am, respectively during discussion of this item.

Councillors Khan and Akhtar withdrew from the meeting for a short while, respectively during discussion of this item.