To consider the Brunswick Street Pay and Display Car Park Disposal Decision taken on 22 August 2011 in light of the comments of the Regeneration and Economic Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee following the call-in of the Decision.

1.  That implementation of the decision on Brunswick Pay and Display Car Park Disposal taken on 22 August 2011 be suspended, pending a report from the Assistant Director of Environment and Regulatory Services containing the additional information on the parking requirements of the streets local to the car park rather than the entire S2 area and any relevant information arising from the emerging parking strategy.

2.  That it be noted that the specific part of the decision made on 22 August 2011 relevant to the garage premises is a decision for the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services.

On 22 August, I made the following decision:

1.  That the Brunswick Street pay and display car park and adjoining garage premises be declared non-operational and surplus.

2.  That the matter be forwarded to the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services for a final decision upon disposal of the site.

The above decision arose from a report submitted to me by the Assistant Director of Environment and Regulatory Services.  The decision taken was then called-in by the Regeneration and Economic Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee and this matter was considered by them at a meeting held on 05 September and the following recommendation was made:

a)  That the decision be referred back to the Cabinet Member for Environment with the recommendation that it be reconsidered with additional information on the parking requirements of the streets local to the car park, rather than the entire S2 area, so that if the Cabinet member is satisfied from the further information that businesses and residents can be provided for with little or no adverse impact, then the decision should stand, and

b)  That the report to the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services include an evaluation of the current use as a car park against the future use of the site to ensure that the operational issues are considered alongside the options for disposal.

In addition, at the meeting of the Regeneration and Economic Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee a number of points and comments were made which I have taken on board, including reference to the emerging parking strategy.  In light of the recommendation and the discussion of the Regeneration and Economic Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee I consider it appropriate that the implementation of the decision be deferred to consider this matter further.

In addition, I am also aware that the matter relating to the adjacent garage premises should be a matter dealt with by the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services.

I could have decided to implement the decision but determined that, in light of the comments, the above decision was the appropriate action.