Issue - meetings

To consider and debate a petition which has received over 1000 signatures

A petition had been received, gathered by the independent shops of Bath, protesting the increase in parking charges in Bath city centre.  According to the Council’s petition scheme, if a petition with over 1000 qualifying signatures of people who live, work and study in Bath & North East Somerset is received, a debate is held at Council.

Tim Newark, as one of two lead petitioners, addressed the Council in support of the petition.  He explained how the petition had originally been started by Jo Grasse at the start of the year after her shop was directly affected by parking charges. He outlined the recommendations from the petition which they hoped would achieve agreement at this meeting.

Following a debate by Council, Councillor Anthony Clarke moved the following motion, seconded by Councillor John Bull, which was then

RESOLVED that

This Council:

·  Notes that, within the budget approved by Council, the level of parking charges are a matter for Cabinet, and so Full Council is in a position only to make recommendations to Cabinet on this matter.

·  Believes that, in addition to the social and environmental impact, the Council also has a responsibility to consider the economic impact of its policies.

·  Believes that it is essential to Bath’s economic prosperity for residents and visitors to be able to make short shopping trips into the city centre.

·  Believes that the Council does need to seek ways to reduce the number of cars needing to enter the centre of Bath, but that simply hiking the cost of parking is not the best way to achieve this.

·  Is concerned that recent significant increases in on-street parking charges in Bath could have a detrimental impact on economic activity in the city, and believes that the new ‘Ultra-Premium Zone’ is particularly unfair and punitive.

·  Is concerned that recent changes to evening parking charge times at Charlotte Street could have a detrimental impact on the evening economy.

·  Is concerned that these changes in on-street parking charges were not undertaken as part of a broader review of parking charges, which should have included consideration of the impact on the local economy.

·  Is concerned at the lack of consultation prior to these changes being implemented.

Council resolves:

1.  To ask that Cabinet undertake a review of current on-street parking charges, which includes an assessment of demand and supply at each location, and an assessment of the economic impact resulting from the Council’s policy towards on-street parking charges.

2.  That as part of this review, Cabinet is asked to take into serious consideration the proposals of the petitioners, and in particular seek to reduce or remove the new ‘ultra-premium’ on-street parking zone rates.

3.  That, in addition, Cabinet is asked to seek to either reinstate a reduced evening parking charge from 6pm to 8pm, or alternatively amend the start time of free parking to 7pm rather than the current 8pm.

[Notes;

1.  The above resolution was passed with 33 Councillors voting in favour, 29 against and with 1 abstention.]