Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on the review of the Parking Services Work Programme for 2019-2021. The reason for this review is that the Council has received a large number of requests across the Borough, including from some residents in Pine Grove, Brookmans Park for their area to be added to the work programme.

Report of the Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on the review of the Parking Services Work Programme 2019-2021.  Throughout the year, the Council receives requests for parking restrictions and/or improvements. Once received, these are recorded on the Parking Services investigation list for consideration for a future parking work programme.  The parking work programme is important, as it provides a transparent plan of how the parking services team will undertake parking consultations and any subsequent improvements, at different locations across the Borough over a period of time. This is particularly key in managing the different expectations of residents and businesses, who want to see parking improvements in a certain area.

The report noted that up to 10 December 2019, the Council had received 683 parking requests from residents and businesses, which have been recorded on the investigation list for the future parking work programme.  

It was noted that 242 of the above requests would be addressed as part of the existing work programme; leaving 441 requests to be considered for the future work programme. 

On occasion, 106 contributions can be made available as part of the planning process for new developments. This money can be used to design and consult affected parties in a specific area on possible parking displacement. The first two projects are The Comet and High View (Appendix A).  Recruitment for the new Parking Officer would be starting in April 2020. Officers explained that additional resource had been made available and The Comet and High View would be their first projects.

(Work Programme) Recommendation 2.1:

Members raised and discussed the following points relating to recommendation 2.1:

1.      An amendment was tabled, to extend the map in Appendix A (High View), which covers Woods Avenue, including the Birds Estate, through to Hazel Grove, The Wades, Southdown Road to Travellers Lane.  Officers explained to extend the work area further to include Drakes Way, Cherry Way and Shallcross Crescent, down to Southway as proposed by Councillor Zukowskyj, would mean having to remove an area off the current work programme.

2.      The Panel agreed to add the area proposed by Councillor Zukowskyj Appendix B, when an opportunity presented itself to add the suggested extended area to the parking work programme.

(Pine Grove) Recommendation 2.2:

The report noted that residents in Pine Grove had been consulted by the Borough Council on parking proposals in 2015.  This was mainly in response to concerns around safety at the junction of Chancellors School and Pine Grove. At that time, most of the responses opted for a single yellow line opposite the junction with the road to the school and the introduction of ‘school keep clear’ marking.  Residents were also asked if the restrictions went far enough; of the 31 responses only 12 stated that they did not go far enough.  Based on the majority of residents accepting the proposed changes, no further consultation with residents or the school were carried out.

Members then discussed the following points relating to recommendation 2.2:

1.    The Chair advised that a meeting had been held at the Council Offices with residents of Pine Grove.

2.    Residents had raised concerns to Councillors that since the intake for the school had increased by one form (30 pupils), parking had been impacted.  This included insufficient parking around the area, school buses parking within the school confinement and some congestion at school drop off and pick up times.

3.    Members were also advised that once the school building work is completed there would be an additional 33 parking spaces available within the school grounds which should assist with improving this situation.

4.    Safety concerns had been raised by residents with Hertfordshire County Council (HCC). The Officer (HCC) explained that a Road Safety Review in Pine Grove had been carried out, involving a Traffic Management Officer from the Police, Senior Road Safety Engineer and other officers of the HCC’s Safety Routes to School Team on 7 November 2019.  Members noted that the review on 7 November took into consideration the busy school times – morning and afternoon.

5.    The Road Safety Review, carried out by HCC, highlighted that Pine Grove had no significant safety concerns and was no different to any other road within the county, where a school is located. An example was provided of schools in Woods Avenue, Hatfield in which school users had reported safety concerns during peak times.

6.    Members discussed alternative routes to school and whether there were safer travel routes by foot or car.

7.    It was explained, if the Panel agreed to include Pine Grove on the work programme, other areas on the work programme would need to be removed. There would also be a delay in reviewing any new areas, as requested by residents and adding these areas to the work programme. It was noted that there have been more requests from residents in other areas.

8.    Officers advised that the Parking Services Team was already stretched without including Pine Grove and there was no capacity to add additional areas to the work programme at the present time.

9.    Based on the above discussions, it was agreed not to include Pine Grove to the work programme 2020-2022.

RESOLVED

1.    The Panel recommends to Cabinet, taking into consideration the growth for a new officer to include The Comet and High View areas to extend the Work Programme from one year to two years, 2020-2022.

2.    To include the remainder of the area tabled by Councillor Zukowskyj Appendix B to be added - to the work programme, once resource becomes available.

3.    Not to include Pine Grove on the work programme 2020-2022.

Meeting ended at 8.20