Issue - meetings

A report by the Director of Leisure and Community.

 RESOLVED that the Executive agrees that:

(a)  a Pay-by-App option be introduced for all Pay & Display car parks in the Borough;

(b)  new Pay-on-Foot machines be installed in Osborn Road Multi-storey car park, Fareham shoppers’ car park and Market Quay car park and a budget of £250,000 be allocated for this purpose;

(c)  a charge of £1 per hour up to a maximum of £6 per day be introduced in all coastal car parks in the Borough during the hours of 10am – 6pm;

(d)  new solar powered Pay and Display machines are installed in coastal car parks and a budget of £75,000 in total be allocated for this purpose;

(e)  Dragons’ Teeth be installed at Monks Hill and Salterns car parks to prevent parking on the grass verges at a cost of £11,000 but height restriction barriers will not be installed;

(f)   a consultation exercise on Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) be undertaken outlining any required changes to parking restrictions and charges in all car parks where changes are proposed to current arrangements;

(g)  authority be delegated to the Director of Leisure and Community following consultation with the Executive Member for Health and Public Protection to conduct Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultations in free car parks where the limited waiting time limit is deemed too long;

(h)  authority be delegated to the Director of Leisure and Community following consultation with the Executive Member for Health and Public Protection to consider options for parking of coaches in Portchester car parks and to ban overnight camper van parking in coastal car parks;

(i)    Officers report back to a future meeting of the Executive on any potential concessionary or season ticket arrangements in individual car parks which is to include an option (agreed in principle) for a season ticket of £80 per year;

(j)    Charging will not be implemented in any car parks other than Fareham Town Centre or coastal car parks across the Borough within the next five years;

(k)  work is undertaken to investigate the provision of cycle racks to be installed at coastal car parks;

(l)    liaison takes place with Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Police to address on-street parking issues which may transpire after the implementation of any car park charging; and

(m)     Meon Shore car park resurfacing will not go ahead as per the original recommendation (e) in the report to the Executive.

The Executive Leader brought item 10(3) Parking Service Review forward on the Agenda.

At the invitation of the Chairman, the following Councillors addressed the Executive on this item: Councillors S Cunningham; S Dugan; M J Ford; J Forrest (written); L Keeble; Mrs K Mandry and R J Price.

The Executive received deputations in respect of this item as detailed in item 5 of the agenda.

In considering this item, the Executive took account of the recommendations of the Policy & Resources Scrutiny Panel made at the panel meeting held on 24 August 2020.

Following debate on this item and taking into consideration the number and content of the deputations received, the comments which had been received and passed to the Executive for consideration together with the numbers who had signed the Petition and the comments received from Councillors in their representations, the Executive Leader made a proposal for new recommendations.

In respect of recommendations (a), (b) and (d), these remained as per the original recommendations outlined in the report.

In respect of the proposed recommendation (c), this was suggested following the numerous representations to reconsider both the cost of parking and to set a timeframe for charging during the day.

In respect of the original recommendation (e), following representations made, it was agreed that the upgrade to the Meon Shore car park would not proceed.

In respect of the original recommendation (f), following representations in respect of the high number of water sports enthusiasts who carry a large amount of water sport equipment, it was proposed that the recommendation to install height barriers would not proceed as a recommendation.

The original recommendations (g) and (h) remained in the proposed new recommendations.

Taking into consideration the comments made by several deputees and ward Councillors who made representations about the overnight parking of camper vans, a recommended proposal to ban overnight parking of camper vans was made.  The Executive Leader also proposed that considerations be explored for options for coach parking in Portchester car parks.

Reflecting on the comments made by several deputees and ward Councillors making representations about the possibility of an introduction of offering season tickets to the car park users, the Executive Leader proposed that Officers report back to the Executive at a future meeting in respect of any potential concessionary or season ticket arrangements in individual car parks which is to include an option for a season ticket of £80 per year.  The Executive Leader proposed that this figure would be recommended to be agreed in principle.

Taking into account the views of all who commented on the possible implementation of charging for parking, and as a commitment to maintaining out of town charges at the current rate, the Executive Leader proposed that no new charging would be implemented apart from Fareham Town centre and the coastal car parks within the next five years.

In considering the comments made through Deputations and Ward Councillors’ representations, the Executive Leader proposed that work is undertaken to investigate the provision of cycle racks to be installed at coastal car park locations, to assist with secure storage for those who wish to cycle to the destination for leisure and/or health purposes.

In recognising the comments made in respect of the potential for on-street parking issues, including current issues experienced by those parking on-street in residential areas and parking on grass verges, the Executive Leader proposed that liaison takes place with Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Police to address on-street parking issues which may transpire after the implementation of any car parking charges. 

RESOLVED that the Executive agrees that:

(a)  a Pay-by-App option be introduced for all Pay & Display car parks in the Borough;

(b)  new Pay-on-Foot machines be installed in Osborn Road Multi-storey car park, Fareham shoppers’ car park and Market Quay car park and a budget of £250,000 be allocated for this purpose;

(c)  a charge of £1 per hour up to a maximum of £6 per day be introduced in all coastal car parks in the Borough during the hours of 10am – 6pm;

(d)  new solar powered Pay and Display machines are installed in coastal car parks and a budget of £75,000 in total be allocated for this purpose;

(e)  Dragons’ Teeth be installed at Monks Hill and Salterns car parks to prevent parking on the grass verges at a cost of £11,000 but height restriction barriers will not be installed;

(f)   a consultation exercise on Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) be undertaken outlining any required changes to parking restrictions and charges in all car parks where changes are proposed to current arrangements;

(g)  authority be delegated to the Director of Leisure and Community following consultation with the Executive Member for Health and Public Protection to conduct Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultations in free car parks where the limited waiting time limit is deemed too long;

(h)  authority be delegated to the Director of Leisure and Community following consultation with the Executive Member for Health and Public Protection to consider options for parking of coaches in Portchester car parks and to ban overnight camper van parking in coastal car parks;

(i)    Officers report back to a future meeting of the Executive on any potential concessionary or season ticket arrangements in individual car parks which is to include an option (agreed in principle) for a season ticket of £80 per year;

(j)    Charging will not be implemented in any car parks other than Fareham Town Centre or coastal car parks across the Borough within the next five years;

(k)  work is undertaken to investigate the provision of cycle racks to be installed at coastal car parks;

(l)    liaison takes place with Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Police to address on-street parking issues which may transpire after the implementation of any car park charging; and

(m)     Meon Shore car park resurfacing will not go ahead as per the original recommendation (e) in the report to the Executive.