Archived decisions

Contact: Graham Carter, tel: 01962 857810/Neville Crisp, tel: 01962 840222

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That an Order be made under Sections 1, 2, 4, 32, 35, 45, 46, 49 and 51 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect of which will be to amend the cost of residents' parking permits in Winchester's Controlled Parking Zone, as specified in Appendix 3 of this report and shown on the attached location plan 370201/008.

2. Reasons

2.1 The proposals have resulted from a review of parking and waiting restrictions in Winchester and a recommendation to Winchester City Council's Planning and Transportation Policy Review Committee in liaison with the local Members - Councillors Mrs Dickens and Mrs Peskett, Winchester City Council Members and the Police. The Committee approved the recommendation.

2.2 The level of increase in permit fees was discussed at length before the proposed fees were agreed at £15 for the first and second permit and £30 for the third and fourth permit, where applicable. The cost of residents' parking permits in Winchester has remained the same since permits were first introduced in Winchester (in Hyde Abbey Road) in 1970. If inflation were applied to this original fee of £10, the current cost would be in excess of £90.

2.3 The proposal is intended to:

(i) provide an increase in the permit fee to take some account of inflation and address the increase in administrative costs; and

(ii) provide a deterrent to fraudulent use and abuse of the visitors' permit system whereby some permits are not used for their intended purpose of providing occasional parking for visitors, but used for regular parking.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 There were 151 letters received following the formal advertisement together with a petition containing 39 signatures, although several of these were duplicate objections from the same property/individual. Taking this into account there were effectively 181 individual objections and one letter supporting the proposal (see Appendix 1 for list of correspondents).

3.2 Notices of the proposal were sent to each property currently issued with a parking permit, rather than placing notices on-street. A total of 4,611 notices were delivered. The number of objections, when taken as a percentage of those notified, represents less than 4% of permit holders. This could be considered as over 96% not objecting to the proposed increase.

3.3 Appendix 2 summarises the objections to the proposals as advertised in the draft Order, together with officer's comments. Appendix 3 sets out the proposed parking permit fee levels which are recommended, notwithstanding the objections received.

4. Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or a member or officer consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7464/GSC