STRATEGIC PLANNING, SUSTAINABILITY AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

01 December 2015

Is the final decision on the recommendations in this report to be made at this meeting?

Yes

 

Objections to Off Street Parking Places Order - Mote Park

 

Final Decision-Maker

Strategic Planning, Sustainability and Transportation Committee

Lead Head of Service

Paul Spooner

Interim Director of Planning and Development

Lead Officer and Report Author

Jeff Kitson

Parking Services Manager

Classification

Public

Wards affected

All

 

 

This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee:

 

1.   That the Committee agrees the recommendation in relation to The Borough of Maidstone (Off Street Parking Places) (Variation No7) Order 2015 and agree to make the Order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

 

2.   That the committee approves the monitoring of potential displaced parking in roads surrounding Mote Park, following the implementation of the order.

 

 

 

This report relates to the following corporate priorities:

·         Keeping Maidstone Borough an attractive place for all.

By managing parking demand; improving parking provision for park users; generate revenue to help maintain and improve Mote Park for residents and users; and regulating dangerous and antisocial parking.

 

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Heritage Culture and Leisure Committee.

13 July 2015

Strategic Planning Sustainability and Transportation Committee.

01 December 2015



Objections to Off Street Parking Places Order - Mote Park

 

 

1.        PURPOSE OF REPORT AND EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

1.1     To present to the Committee the results of the recently conducted public consultation in relation to The Borough of Maidstone (Off Street Parking Places) (Variation No7) Order 2015 which formally proposes the introduction of pay and display parking and season ticket parking in Mote Park.

 

1.2     To enable the Committee to consider the recommendation to approve the sealing of the Parking Places Order.

 

1.3     To enable the Committee to consider proposals to monitor the roads surrounding Mote Park following the implementation of the order to identify any localised parking problems related to potential displaced parking.

 

 

2.        INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

2.1     On 13 July 2015 the Heritage Culture and Leisure Committee considered a report entitled Parking Charges in Mote Park. An extract of the Record of Decision shows:

 

Decision Made

 

(1)        That parking charges of £1.00 for stays of up to six hours (with no return within two hours) be introduced to Mote Park from 10am every morning;

 

(2)        That delegated authority be given to the Parking Services Manager to issue concessions and free parking permits to volunteers of Mote Park Fellowship, community and special interest groups that already pay to use the park (such as Maidstone Victory Angling Club; Big Bang Productions, Cygnet Model Boat club; etc.); park residents; and charitable or community groups (such as Mencap) based on an agreed criteria;

 

(3)        That a budget of £87,000 be earmarked for the delivery of the Mote Park parking charges project from the capital programme funding for commercial projects; and

 

(4)        That delegated authority is given to the Head of Commercial and Economic Development to spend the budget to implement the proposal to introduce parking charges at Mote Park.

 

2.2     Parking Services were tasked to prepare the statutory notices to formally propose a variation to the Off Street Parking Places Order to introduce parking charges in Mote Park Car Parks and to start the public consultation process.

 

2.3     A copy of the Public Notice was published in the local press on Friday 16 October 2015 and copies of the Notice were displayed in Mote Park within the areas subject to the order, being the Main Car Park, Overflow Car Park, School Lane Car Park and the Burning Ground Car Park.

 

2.4     The public notices confirmed the tariff applied as:

 

Pay and Display

 (1)

Item

(2)

Period

(3)

Tariff

1.

Between 10am and 12.00 Midnight

Up to 6 hours

£1.00

2.

Between 10am and 12.00 Midnight

Over 6 hours

£12.00

 

Season Tickets (Maidstone residents)

 (1)

Item

(2)

Period

(3)

Tariff for All days           

1.

Annual

£40.00

 

2.5     Copies of the proposed Orders and a statement of the Council's reasons for proposing to make the Orders were placed on deposit for public consideration at the Reception Desk, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone and at the Main Reception, County Hall, Maidstone.

 

2.6       As a result of concerns from Ward Members and other stakeholders, the public consultation was also promoted to the wider community through direct letter delivery to over 700  households in each of the roads surrounding Mote Park to ensure the views of local residents were considered fully as part of the formal public consultation process.

 

2.7       All comments received during the formal consultation period were reviewed and considered and these are summarised in section 5 of this report with more detailed information within Appendix A.

 

 

3.        AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

3.1     To not proceed with the order will result in uncontrolled parking within the park to continue resulting in reduced parking provision for park users and make it difficult to manage antisocial parking. This will also impact on the Councils ability to generate revenue to help maintain and improve Mote Park for residents and users.

 

3.2     To proceed with the order without considering the views of consultation respondents will not recognise local concerns or allow monitoring of potential displaced parking in roads surrounding Mote Park, following the implementation of the order.

 

3.3     To proceed with the order and approve the monitoring of potential displaced parking in roads surrounding Mote Park, following the implementation of the order.

 

 

4.        PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

4.1     The recommended option is to proceed with the order and approve the monitoring of potential displaced parking in roads surrounding Mote Park, following the implementation of the order.

 

4.2     The issue of displaced parking is a concern for some local residents and therefore provision has been made to monitor the impact of parking in surrounding roads following the implementation of the Order if agreed.  Should there prove to be a negative impact on local residents, alterations to the Waiting Restrictions and Designated Parking Places Orders will be investigated and reported to the Committee in order to manage any displacement.

 

 

5.       CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

 

5.1     22 responses were received with 8 respondents objecting to the proposals and 8 respondents supporting the proposals. 18 consultation respondents also made comment on other related / associated issues.

 

5.2       16 respondents raised concerns about displaced parking in roads adjacent to Mote Park and the potential negative impact on local residents.

 

5.3       Public consultation was promoted in the local press and through public notices. Consultation was further extended to the wider community through direct letter communication. The result of 22 respondents is considered to be low in response to the proposals.

 

 

6.       NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

6.1     Where agreed The Borough of Maidstone (Off Street Parking Places) (Variation No7) Order 2015 Order will be amended accordingly and sealed by Mid Kent Legal Services.

 

6.2     The ‘Has Made’ order will be advertised in line with legal requirements set out under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

 

6.3     The objectors will be informed of the outcome.

 

 

7.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities

Keeping Maidstone Borough an attractive place for all by managing parking demand; improving parking provision for park users; generate revenue to help maintain and improve Mote Park for residents and users; and regulating dangerous and antisocial parking.

 

Parking Services Manager

Risk Management

Consideration has been given to formal objections letters of support and comments with regard to this proposal. 

 

Parking Services Manager

Financial

The costs of the order variation and implementation will be met from within the existing budget.

 

Finance Team

Staffing

No implications

 

Legal

Formal orders will need to be made and signed by Mid Kent Legal Services.

Kate Jardine, Team Leader (Planning) Mid Kent Legal Services

Equality Impact Needs Assessment

No implications.

 

Environmental/Sustainable Development

No implications.

 

Community Safety

No implications.

 

Human Rights Act

No implications.

 

Procurement

No implications.

 

Asset Management

No implications.

 

 

8.        REPORT APPENDICES

 

The following documents are to be published with this report and form part of the report:

·         Appendix A: Public consultation summary.

 

 

9.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

None.