Agenda item

Officers presented the draft Bromsgrove Car Parking Strategy for early scrutiny before Cabinet consideration.

Evidence suggested that the town centre had sufficient overall parking capacity, including after the future loss of the Stourbridge Road car park. Demand was, however, concentrated in central car parks. Parkside was used predominantly by season ticket holders rather than Council employees.

The proposed objectives included supporting regeneration and economic growth, improving customer experience, optimising use of the parking estate, supporting sustainable and low emission travel, improving management and enforcement and ensuring the network’s long term financial sustainability.

Potential actions included clearer signage, redistribution of season ticket holders, regular utilisation monitoring, reviews of parking in local centres, a visible enforcement improvement plan, assessment of slower electric vehicle charging and possible use of the National Parking Platform.

Comments and officer responses are provided below:

• Members suggested signage on the approaches to the town centre identifying the most suitable car park for particular destinations. - Officers agreed to consider this to encourage the use of car parks less utilised.
• A typographical error was outlined within the report.  - Officers confirmed that this would be reviewed and amended as necessary.
• Questions were raised about discrepancies in capacity figures and whether the evidence distinguished between peak occupancy in individual car parks and peak occupancy across the whole network. - Officers agreed that the figures and explanation required checking and clarification.
• Members supported moving season ticket holders towards less heavily used outer car parks and also queried whether North Bromsgrove and School Drive could be connected or expanded using adjoining land. – In response it was confirmed that this was being reviewed as a possibility, although full costs were not yet available.
• Accessibility issues were raised, including the use of disabled spaces and payment machines. - Officers advised that all Council car parks retained cash payment facilities and agreed to examine accessibility in greater depth.
• Members expressed concern that the surveys represented only point in time manual counts rather than comprehensive beat surveys. – The Board were advised that no registration based, half hourly surveys had been undertaken and that more detailed work would require additional resources or commissioning.
• Members argued that forecasting needed to reflect housing growth and the Nailers Yard development, town centre residential development, free parking arrangements and other future demand before any irreversible decision was made about Churchfields. - Officers advised that Recreation Road South had been observed at below 50 per cent occupancy and that up to approximately 70 cars might be associated with the Nailers Yard commercial building, in addition to visitors.
• Members stressed that parking pressures in local centres, including Aston Fields, Hagley, Barnt Green and Alvechurch, could be more severe than in Bromsgrove town centre. - Officers advised that strategic responsibility for parking had transferred to the Towns and Local Centres Strategic Lead, who would examine these issues.
• An update was requested on the extra resource suggested by the Board for enforcement officers. – In response Members were advised that the Council had funded 1.5 additional full-time equivalent civil enforcement posts. One full-time officer had been recruited however the half-time post had proved difficult to fill. Further recruitment and use of overtime were being pursued. Members suggested considering whether available underspends could fund a full post.

During consideration of this matter the Chairman concluded discussions and confirmed the Board’s feedback to Cabinet should include the need for the following:

·         Stronger and clearer evidence.

·         Robust forecasting of future demand.

·         Improved signage.

·         Consideration of accessibility.

·         Examination of parking pressures outside the town centre.

·         Improved enforcement capacity.

·         Caution before making decisions affecting Churchfields car park.

Also during consideration of this item the following recommendation was also proposed by Councillor B. Kumar and seconded by Councillor S.A. Robinson:

“Whether a task group should be established to examine district-wide parking requirements”.

On being put to the vote the recommendation was carried.

RECOMMENDED that:

Following consideration of the draft Bromsgrove Car Parking Strategy 2026-2029 the Board’s feedback to help shape the final version prior to Cabinet consideration would include the need for the following:

·         Stronger and clearer evidence.

·         Robust forecasting of future demand.

·         Improved signage.

·         Consideration of accessibility.

·         Examination of parking pressures outside the town centre.

·         Improved enforcement capacity.

·         Caution before making decisions affecting Churchfields car park; and

RESOLVED that a scrutiny task group be established to investigate parking requirements district-wide.