Issue - meetings

The Commercial and Customer Services Director introduced the report.

Following discussion and consideration of the item;

Councillor Schneiderman, seconded by Councillor Dr. Devra Kay moved the following amendments to the draft parking policy;

1.            Section 4.1.3 - Short stay parking, page 213 (penultimate paragraph) Add at end: “In order to build on this, a minimum of 30 minutes free parking will be introduced in all of Barnet’s town centres”.

Full paragraph to read:

In some areas, the Council has provided limited stay free parking which has a maximum stay period and a “no?return” period. These measures, primarily introduced near smaller local parades of shops, were introduced to encourage increased patronage and a regular turnover of parked vehicles.  In order to build on this, a minimum of 30 minutes free parking will be introduced in all of Barnet’s town centres.

The amendment was put to the vote. Votes were recorded as follows:

The amendment was declared lost.

2.            Section 4.2.1 - Legal standpoint, page 213 (second paragraph under bullet points).  After “card, disc, token”, add “cash”.  After “other payment methods” add “including the planned adaption of parking meters to take cash”.

Full paragraph to read:

The legislation provides for payment to be made via a parking meter or pay and display machine, or be indicated by a card, disc, token, cash or similar. It also allows for the issue of permits. In recent years, it has been acknowledged that payment for parking and permits with or without display of a ticket, permit or parking device, is also possible via mobile phone other digital communication device or via the internet, which has resulted in many local authorities, including Barnet, utilising pay by phone and other payment methods, including the planned adaptation of parking meters to take cash.

The amendment was put to the vote. Votes were recorded as follows:

The amendment was declared lost.

3.            Section 4.2.2 How the Council Sets Parking Charges (page 214).  Delete the whole of the third paragraph that begins “A number of options were rejected”.  Replace with:

It is noted that a flat rate option was the most popular method of charging for parking permits.  It is also noted that there was significant support for reducing air pollution.  Further work should be done on analysing charging systems that have successfully worked in other councils.  In order to ensure that the costs imposed on residents are fair, any change in the permit charging system must be considered alongside the proposed charges themselves.

The amendment was put to the vote. Votes were recorded as follows:

The amendment was declared lost.

4.            Section 6.9 Parking Controls, Short stay pay by phone parking schemes (page 221).  Delete “pay by phone” from heading and in the first sentence change: “in some cases”to “in all cases”

Full paragraph to read:

Short stay parking schemes

This is paid parking used  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8