Issue - meetings

1.       That, subject to Full Council approval of the Budget and Capital Investment Strategy in February 2025, expenditure of £1,180,000 for the car park major works programme 2025/26 be approved as outlined in appendix A to report CAB3488.

2.       That it be noted that the expenditure plans contained within report CAB3488 exhaust the resources currently available, therefore requiring additional resources to be set aside in the 2025/26 budget.

3.       That authority be delegated to the Head of Programme – Place, in consultation with the Corporate Head of Asset Management and Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, to make minor adjustments to the programme in order to meet maintenance and operational needs of the car park service throughout the year, as required, and procure works as set out in the report.

4.       That it be agreed to convert Middle Brook Street car park from “pay on foot” to “pay and display”.

Councillor Learney introduced the report and outlined the improvements undertaken in 2024/25 together with those proposed for 2025/26 which would be subject to approval of the 2025/26 budget by Council in February.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillors Lee, Cramoysan and Horrill addressed Cabinet as summarised briefly below.

Councillor Lee

He expressed concerns about whether the programme had been future proofed against the various challenges facing the council, including reduced government funding, the climate emergency and proposals for local government reorganisation.  He referenced the national proposals to ban the future sale of diesel and petrol cars and whether parking spaces should be reduced, workplace levies be considered and EV charging infrastructure prioritised.

Councillor Cramoysan

As chair of the Kings Barton Forum, he requested an update on progress towards the provision of a new park and ride facility to serve the North of Winchester as set out in the Winchester Movement Strategy. The park and ride site was required to be connected by a new spine road through the Kings Barton development which had not yet been completed, despite being a Section 106 requirement on the developer CALA.  He suggested that CALA should be required to provide an alternative temporary car park close to the school to help alleviate traffic issues until the new park and ride facility was built.

Councillor Horrill

Speaking on behalf of Councillor Bolton, she expressed concern about the impact of parking restrictions in market towns on local shops and businesses and believed that a more balanced approach was required to mitigate the impact on the local economy.  Events and festivals should be held to attract more footfall into areas even where parking was limited.

Councillor Learney responded to the comments made including agreeing to consider further the proposal for a temporary car park in Kings Barton.  Both Councillors Learney and Thompson emphasised that the changes to parking charges had not impacted on the numbers of people parking and disputed that footfall had decreased.

Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons set out in the report and outlined above.

RESOLVED:

1.                  That, subject to Full Council approval of the Budget and Capital Investment Strategy in February 2025, expenditure of £1,180,000 for the car park major works programme 2025/26 be approved as outlined in appendix A to the report.

2.                  That it be noted that the expenditure plans contained within the report exhaust the resources currently available, therefore requiring additional resources to be set aside in the 2025/26 budget.

3.                  That authority be delegated to the Head of Programme – Place, in consultation with the Corporate Head of Asset Management and Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, to make minor adjustments to the programme in order to meet maintenance and operational needs of the car park service throughout the year, as required, and procure works as set out in the report.

4.                  That it be agreed to convert Middle Brook Street car park from “pay on foot” to “pay and display”.