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Agenda item

Review of Car Parks

Purpose:

To consider proposals that promote the efficient utilisation of the Council's free off-street carparks, and support access to the District's Town Centres and smaller service centres, including the gathering of further data on carpark usage and implementation of amended stay times.

 

Recommendations:

That the Executive Resolves to:

a)    Agree that a further review in 2024 of Guildenford car park supports the best use of council assets to identify parking issues and capacity levels. As per paragraph 3.5 of the report.

b)    Agree to delegate the decision to approve the costs associated with undertaking a further review of Guildenford car park to Assistant Director for Resident Services Group in consultation with the Executive Member for Leisure and Major Projects.

c)    Agree that a further review in 2024 of Hensington Road car park would support best use of council assets once the impact of charging on street by Oxfordshire County Council has been assessed as per paragraph 3.39 of the report.

d)    Agree to change the restriction time in Zone G of Woolgate to 12-hour maximum stay as per paragraph 3.30 of the report. 

e)    If changes to stay times are agreed (as per recommendation d), delegate the decisions following outcome of the legally required consultation to the Assistant Director for Resident Services Group in consultation with the Executive Member for Leisure and Major Projects

f)     Approve expenditure up to £8,000 to improve car park signage from the Support from either UKSPF funding or Council Priorities Reserve.

g)      Agree in principle that condition surveys on Council Car parks should be considered further to establish the condition of Council assets as per paragraph 5.2 of the report.

Minutes:

Councillor Alaric Smith, Executive Member for Finance, introduced and gave an overview of the report, which considered proposals promoting the efficient utilisation of the Council's free off-street car parks.

The report also sought to support access to the District's Town Centres and smaller service centres, including the gathering of further data on car park usage and implementation of amended stay times.

In debate, the Executive were pleased to highlight a positive response received from the Store Manager of Waitrose in Witney, whereby the results of a trail of longer, permitted stays in the Woolgate Car Park in central Witney had made a significant difference to the morale of staff at Waitrose, and that it had also made a substantial increase in staff retention at the store. The longer stay time frame had also been of benefit to local charitable organisations who required the car park for their own work. The Executive also gave a further detailed overview of the reviews undertaken by the Council and the benefit it would provide to both residents and businesses.

The Executive also gave an assurance that issues surrounding on-street parking in the town of Woodstock, particularly when outside events take place at Blenheim Palace, would be investigated by Council Officers ahead of the summer season of 2024. The Executive also reaffirmed the ease to both residents and businesses of free car parking within the district, and that the extension of the Oxford Tube bus service to Carterton and Witney from Oxford and London, would also result in increased monitoring of car parks, as a part of ongoing reviews.

The Executive stated that the improvements to signposts and general signage within car parks around the district, would also be of benefit to the local economy, meaning that visitors would not become confused when arriving at car park locations.

Councillor Alaric Smith proposed that the Executive agree to the recommendations as listed on the report. This was seconded by Councillor Tim Sumner, was put to a vote, and was agreed unanimously by the Executive.

The Executive Resolved to:

  1. Agree that a further review in 2024 of Guildenford car park, Burford, supports the best use of council assets to identify parking issues and capacity levels. As per paragraph 3.5 of the report;
  2. Agree to delegate the decision to approve the costs associated with undertaking a further review of Guildenford car park to Assistant Director for Resident Services Group in consultation with the Executive Member for Leisure and Major Projects;
  3. Agree that a further review in 2024 of Hensington Road car park, Woodstock, would support best use of council assets once the impact of charging on street by Oxfordshire County Council has been assessed as per paragraph 3.39 of the report;
  4. Agree to change the restriction time in Zone G of Woolgate Car Park, Witney, to 12-hour maximum stay as per paragraph 3.30 of the report;
  5. If changes to stay times are agreed (as per recommendation D), delegate the decisions following outcome of the legally required consultation to the Assistant Director for Resident Services Group in consultation with the Executive Member for Leisure and Major Projects;
  6. Approve expenditure up to £8,000 to improve car park signage from the Support from either UKSPF funding or Council Priorities Reserve;
  7. Agree in principle that condition surveys on Council Car parks should be considered further to establish the condition of Council assets as per paragraph 5.2 of the report.

Supporting documents:

 

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