Agenda and minutes

To authorise the Chairman to sign the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 14 September 2020 as a correct record of proceedings.

The Chairman was authorised to sign the Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 14 September 2020 at a later date as a correct record of the proceedings.

The Chairman to ask if any Member present is substituting for another Member and, if so, to declare his/her name as substitute Member and the name of the absent Member.

An apology of absence was received from Malcolm Johnston, Chief Executive.

To receive any disclosure by Members of personal and disclosable pecuniary interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Member regards the personal interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct. Members are reminded of the need to repeat their declaration immediately prior to the commencement of the item in question.

Declarations of interest were made by Councillors in the Minutes as indicated below:

J. Barnes         Agenda Item 5 – Personal interest in so far as he was an elected Member of East Sussex County Council and Chairman of Etchingham Parish Council.

Clark                Agenda Item 5 – Personal interest in so far as he was an elected Member of East Sussex County Council.

Earl-Williams   Agenda Item 5 – Personal interest in so far as she was an elected Member of East Sussex County Council.

Maynard          Agenda Item 5 – Personal interest in so far as he was an elected Executive Member of East Sussex County Council.

Members received the report of the Head of Service Housing and Community which reminded Members of the recommendations of the Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) Task and Finish Group (T&FG) in 2018 and to recommend establishing a new and separate Off-Street Car Parks T&FG to monitor the impact of charges across all Council owned off-street car parks with the introduction of CPE having taken place in September 2020.  This would help to assess whether the scale of parking charges was appropriate and also inform the work of the reformed CPE T&FG.

The Council operated its designated car parks under the District of Rother (Off Street) Parking Places Order 2020 (PPO). The PPO provided a framework under which the Council could manage its car parks effectively and better meet the cost of maintenance and enforcement through parking charges.

In September 2020, Cabinet agreed to amend the PPO to introduce charges to certain free car parks that fell directly within those CPE areas where on-street charges had been introduced.  It was also agreed that those free car parks that were in close proximity to areas where on-street charges applied should also have charges introduced.  Alongside the need to monitor the impact of CPE on all its off-street car parks, it was important for the Council to monitor the impact of the recent decision to introduce charges to car parks that were free to use prior to the introduction of CPE.

It was therefore recommended that a new separate T&FG be formed to monitor the impact of charging across all Council owned off-street car parks and suggest recommendations for adjustments to the PPO accordingly.

During the debate,  the following points were noted:

•           it was agreed that the words ‘and assess’ be inserted into recommendation 1) to read ‘….be established to monitor and assess the impact …’;

•           photographic and income data was available to illustrate levels of car park usage before and after the introduction of CPE;

•           methods of payment were being introduced into car parks during October, which allowed time for residents to purchase permits before charging commenced;

•           it was considered good practice for the T&FG to review charges again after a further six months from April 2021, to ensure they remained fit for purpose;

•           Council payment machines were equipped to deal with different charging structures;

•           once the T&FG’s Terms of Reference (ToR) had been fulfilled and reported back on in April 2021, the Committee could amend them to reflect those of the CPE T&FG if it so wished and the group continue, rather than reconvening the CPE T&FG;

•           the PPO 2020 had been consulted on which had highlighted the car parks issue. As detailed in the ToR at Appendix A to the report, the needs of residents, businesses and amenity and community groups would be considered within the review; and

•           it was agreed that scope f) in the ToR be amended to read ‘to consider whether revisions  ...  view the full minutes text for item OSC20/27

Consideration was given to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s Work Programme.

The requirement to hold an additional meeting in December 2020 to consider the Medium Term Financial Plan would be reconsidered by officers if the item could be taken to the meeting on 25 January 2021.

RESOLVED: That the Work Programme attached at Appendix A be agreed.

Appendix A

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE