Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director (Resources, Environment & Cultural Services) provides Members with an update on the current (2016/17) work programme and recommends the proposed 2017/18 work programme for parking restrictions and improvements.

Report of the Executive Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on the yearly work programme was considered and covered both parking restrictions and parking improvements, which helps the Council manage and achieve public’s requests and expectations.  It was important for Parking Services to ensure that a consistent programmed approach, that assisted in the efficient management of Traffic Regulation Order (TROs) work and provided transparency to the public.

The report noted that Hatfield town centre was currently being re-developed and as part of the Hatfield 2030+ project it would be looking at how the Council could unlock further development sites which have been highlighted within the town centre.  With most sites being utilised for car parking, the Council would be looking to submit a planning application this year to construct a multi-story car park on The Common.  The proposal would be to re-provide the current parking provision into the multi-storey.  It was considered practical to cease further consultations with immediate area of the town centre until a decision had been made on the planning application.

Member raised and discussed the following points:

·         Knightsfield and Haldens – noted that parents parked outside the school on the single yellow line and waited for their children.  This generated a problem for vehicles during school hours. The Officer advised this situation is a common problem around schools throughout the Borough. Double yellow lines permit vehicles to drop off and pick up passengers for a short period, in most cases there will be an observation period of 5 minutes before we will begin to issue a parking ticket. In addition, if parents are handing over a child to a school staff member they are permitted to leave the vehicle to carry out this task.

·         Possibility of creating a one way system during school hours.  The direction of traffic is a Hertfordshire County Council responsibility.

·         Garage blocks – the renovation, cost and timescales to make the site safe.  It was noted that the garage blocks were beyond repair and that both schemes would be progressed in the new financial year.  Tenants would be notified of alternative sites and works accordingly. Concerns were raised that a number of garages have been broken into and what would be done in the ‘new parking areas’ to improve safety. The Officer advised that it would be reasonable to assume with the removal of the garages this would improve the safety of the area. Most vehicles come with their own alarm systems which would be heard if a vehicle was been tampered with (which the garages do not have) and this would reduce the possibility of vehicles been broken into.

·         Noted that S106 funding would not be part of the parking work programme.

·         Off Street Traffic Regulation Order – work was underway on a map based off-street order for the charging of car parks in Welwyn Garden City and Cuffley.  The ANPR managed the payment side of things but reports have been received that vehicles were not always displaying blue badges when utilising disable parking bays and with this new order the Civil Enforcement Officers would be able to patrol and issue parking tickets to those vehicles they witness parking in such bays.

·         Areas will be assessed with a view to construct parking improvements in advance of further consultations with residents for parking restrictions.  It was noted that timescales may vary due to the approval processes.  Parking Services would continue to assist Housing Services with any schemes they wished to construct.

·         Construction of vehicular crossovers and hard standing for Council tenants – the Team was more focused on creating additional communal parking rather than improving the parking provision for individual properties, unless they met a criteria which confirmed mobility issues.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Panel notes the update on the current 2016/17 work programme and recommend to the Cabinet the proposed 2017/18 work programme for parking restrictions and improvements as attached to the report as Appendix A.

2.    That the Panel recommend for the remainder of the Lemsford Road scheme and French Horn Lane scheme (both in Hatfield Central and East – Area 3 and 4) be placed on hold, until a decision has been made about the planning application for building the multi-storey car park in The Common.