Agenda item

The Assistant Director Regeneration and Property Services updated the Board on the Town Centre Parking and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) update.

It was reported that Town Centre parking capacity remained sufficient, with peak demand significantly below the 1,013 available spaces.

St John Street and Windsor Street car parks continued to experience the highest utilisation, while School Drive, North Bromsgrove and Stourbridge Road remained underused.

The Board noted the following redevelopment considerations:

• Churchfields remained closed due to Anti?Social Behaviour (ASB) risks, with high costs required for reopening and ongoing maintenance.
• Stourbridge Road was subject to an existing development agreement and observed usage indicated high weekday occupancy by seasonticket holders.
• School Drive was identified as suitable for redevelopment due to consistently low usage and a potentially higher capital receipt.

Even with redevelopment of one or more sites, overall parking demand was predicted to remain comfortably met.

Sanders Park Car Park was being used by TownCentre workers for all day free parking. Options were presented to introduce time limits, charges or MiPermit only operation.

Season ticket usage at Parkside had raised concerns from local businesses. Survey findings indicated most users were seasonticket holders rather than Council Staff. Options included amending which car parks accepted season tickets.

ANPR implementation was reported as not viable due to legal constraints, operational requirements for barriers, cost implications and no reduction in enforcement workload.

Out of town enforcement had met the agreed minimum requirement, with between 26% to 29% of patrol time spent outside the Town Centre. Increasing enforcement would require additional staffing at significant cost.

Financial implications were highlighted, including income levels, resurfacing costs and the financial impact of potential car park redevelopments.

The report concluded that a strategic, place-based approach was required to support TownCentre accessibility and economic activity, with further on site counts recommended.

After the presentation the Board made the following comments:

Churchfields Car Park

• Some Members expressed the view that ASB issues would remain if the car park reopened and felt that the brownfield site would be better used for build extra housing for the District. – In response the Leader advised that the primary position would be to carry out remediation works to the car park and address the ASB concerns.  
• School Drive Car Park could provide relief but was located quite far away from the Town Centre, however, Churchfields Car Park was more suitably located for people using the Town Centre.
• With the upcoming LGR considerations and to leave a legacy, carrying out remediation works and re-opening the car park would assist with the key issue of parking within the Town Centre.

Sanders Park

• Some Members regularly visited the park and hadn’t experienced problems with parking availability. 
• Members were concerned that the potential consideration to introduce charges to the car park could potentially deter some to visit the park. – In response the Leader reassured Members that there were no immediate proposals to introduce parking charges.

School Drive Car Park

• Concerns that parking charges in North Bromsgrove Car Park could be a deterrent for the use of the local gym near the area.  A Member suggested season ticket charges to reduce costs for gym membership holders and a consideration for potential revenue for the Council. – In response the Leader reminded Members that the Council did support the Leisure Centre through the Covid pandemic.  Although the Leisure Centre had not contacted the Council to discuss season ticket ideas, the suggestion would be explored further if contact was made.
• LGR – Concerns that there would be inadequate car spaces available for North Bromsgrove High School. – In response the Leader informed the Board that the issue had been raised by with the Board of Education.
• Reports of numerous bins in the area which needed to be addressed.

Stourbridge Road Car Park

• Members expressed the view that the Stourbridge Road Car Park was a prime spot for the Town Centre and convenient for Council Staff. – In response Officers explained that there was a development agreement in place and a planning application on the site; therefore the ongoing use of the car park was unlikely  and should be excluded when considering future capacity needs.

General Discussions

• Manual checks were encouraged by Members to check the validity for the current car parking usage in the Bromsgrove Town Centre. – In response the Assistant Director Regeneration and Property Services explained that the findings were carried out during the strategic planning review but shared concerns that the use of the car parks within the report were out of date and agreed that a more comprehensive usage strategy were required.  Contact would be made with Wychavon Parking Services to discuss costings and it was agreed that further findings would be reported to the Board in due course. During discussions Members also queried how the data analysis checks had been carried out for the car park usage. – In response Officers explained that certain times of the day were analysed.
• Members expressed the view that future demands for parking had not been highlighted in the Local Plan.
• What was the current plans for the agreed extra out of town Civil Enforcement Officers (CEOs)? – The Assistant Director responded that the details would be discussed with Wychavon Parking Services and would be reported back to the Board.  The Leader also added that 25% of resources were used for CEOs in the rural areas.
• Exploration of outsourcing to introduce ANPR at Council owned car parks was sought. – However, in response the Executive Director informed the Board that the contract agreement was in place for 5 years (which would run after LGR).

In conclusion the Chairman suggested the following be reported back to a future meeting for remediation costs for the Churchfields Car Park; and an exploration of a business case for parking permits at School Drive Car Park.

RESOLVED that

a)    The update on Town Centre Parking and ANPR be noted;

b)    Remediation costs for the Churchfields Car Park be provided for future reporting; and

c)    Explore a business case for parking permits at School Drive Car Park.

(During consideration of this item, Members discussed matters that necessitated the disclosure of exempt information. It was therefore agreed to move to exclude the press and public prior to any debate on the grounds that information would be revealed that included information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)). However, there is no exempt information contained within this minute).