Questions on Notice
To deal with any questions on notice from Members of the Council, in the order in which they have been received.
Minutes:
One question on notice was taken.
Question submitted by Councillor S. P. Shannon to the Leader
“With news of new lease for the Victoria Ground being allocated by this Council to Bromsgrove Sporting FC. Can the Leader inform the Council if a new condition has been introduced into the lease that would forbid the obnoxious practice of wheel clamping / vehicle seizure being used to control unauthorized parking at the Victoria Ground?”
The Leader referred this to Councillor M. J. A. Webb as the relevant Portfolio Holder.
Councillor Webb replied that whilst he agreed with the sentiments of the question and that there was a need to ensure the situation was managed effectively, it was not as straightforward as the question suggested. The terms of the lease could include reasonable enforcement provisions for car parking and officers would work to achieve this. Members would recall the problem also related to off-street parking and whilst these were not able to be managed through the lease, he could assure Members that these would be managed through the decriminalisation policy.
Councillor Shannon asked a supplementary question that could the Council insert a condition into the lease at the Victoria ground which forbids the use of clamping/vehicle seizure as a method of parking control on land in and around the stadium leased to Bromsgrove Sporting by the Council?
Councillor Webb replied that the matter could be looked into further but he wished to reiterate the point he made earlier that the terms of the lease could include reasonable enforcement provisions so that was being looked at. If it was being requested that the Council look into this further, he would be happy to progress that.