Councillor Warwick introduced the report.
At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillors Bell and Evans addressed Cabinet as summarised below.
Councillor Bell welcomed the report and asked a number of detailed questions:
· Assurance that new parking payment machines include additional payment options to payment via Pay Mobile or Ringo;
· Request for an additional payment machine at Worthy Lane car park;
· Assurance that the SMART card facility would not be removed until consultation had been undertaken with the University and Hospital;
· Request that when next refurbished, it be considered that the different floors on Chesil MSCP be painted different colours;
· Consideration should be given to providing information to increase understanding for the wider public if virtual residents’ permits were introduced.
As a ward councillor for Wickham, Councillor Evans welcomed the additional car parking spaces provided at the old station in Wickham but emphasised there remained a shortage of car parking spaces in the town. This was causing capacity and safety concerns with inconsiderate parking in Wickham Square. In addition, she requested that additional lighting be provided in the area.
The Chairman requested that the Portfolio Holder and Corporate Head of Regulatory respond directly to the detailed questions raised by Councillors Bell and Evans. Councillor Warwick emphasised that recommendation 3 of the report confirmed that consultation would be undertaken before the smart card payment option was removed.
In response to questions, the Corporate Head of Regulatory advised that proposed expenditure was higher than in previous years due to the number of schemes being ready for implementation, together with the remit of the report being widened. Cabinet noted that expenditure would be funded from a mixture of capital and revenue expenditure, as detailed in the report. Members also highlighted the links with the Winchester Movement Strategy.
Cabinet agreed to the following for the reasons outlined above and set out in the Report.
RESOLVED:
1. That, subject to Council approval of the Budget and Capital Strategy in February 2019, expenditure of £658,000 for 2019/20 as outlined in appendix A, be approved and that the indicative programme for 2020/21 totalling £185,000 be noted as a basis for planning and preparing future works.
2. That the Corporate Head of Regulatory Services be given delegated authority to make minor adjustments to the programme in order to meet maintenance and operational needs of the District’s car parks throughout the year, as required, in consultation with the Corporate Head of Asset Management and Portfolio Holder for the Environment.
3. That in principle the smart card option of payment for customers using park and ride car parks be ceased subject to prior consultation with those parties most affected by this change to this means of making parking payments.