Meeting documents

Councillor Mrs Mortimer declared a personal interest in agenda item 3, Call-In of Executive Decision - Review of Parking Charges 2016-17, as a member of Fylingdales Parish Council which had made representations about the Cabinet decision.

Councillor Inman declared a personal interest in agenda item 3, Call-In of Executive Decision - Review of Parking Charges 2016-17, as a motorist who used car parks operated by the Council.

The Chairman reported that no public questions had been submitted.

To consider a report by the Director (TW) (Reference 15/349) submitted to the Cabinet on 15 December 2015 and to determine whether to recommend to the Cabinet that it amends its decision as detailed in the Extract Minute.

(Call-In form, Cabinet report including Appendix C as amended by the Portfolio Holder with delegated authority after the meeting, Extract Minute of the Cabinet meeting attached)

The committee reviewed the Cabinet’s decision dated 15 December 2015 in respect of parking charges for the financial year 2016/17.  The decision had been called in for scrutiny pursuant to the Additional Overview and Scrutiny Committee Procedure Rules (4.7) set out in the Constitution.  Members had before them, for reference, the report by the Director (TW) (Reference 15/349 including Appendix C as amended by the Portfolio Holder with delegated authority after the Cabinet meeting), the extract minute and the call-in form.

Councillor Jefferson addressed the committee in support of the call-in citing what she believed to be the detrimental effect on tourism, the general economy, all year round employment and residents’ amenities of introducing winter charging for the car parks listed in Appendix D of the report.  Councillor Jefferson was also concerned about the proposed in increases in charges in Appendices B, C, E and F which in some instances were well in excess of inflation.  She also referred to various letters from local businesses and residents opposed to winter charging proposals, including Mr Senior of the South Bay Traders Association and Mr Forgan of the Captain Cook Memorial Museum, and noted that the County Council’s proposed decision to increase the time limit for parking in disc zones depended on the Borough Council’s decision in respect of winter charging.

In response, the Portfolio Holder, Councillor Andrew Backhouse welcomed the call-in and acknowledged the confusion that the report had generated, both by being incorrectly listed as an A item, and in respect of the winter charging proposals, which were to be the subject of an initial consultation exercise to seek the public and stakeholders’ views.  He added that the Council already charged in winter to park in the car parks in Scarborough and Whitby near the main tourist hubs, and in light of the Council’s financial pressures, he felt it was right to explore again the option of extending winter charging.   He noted that some of the parking charges in the report had not altered since 2010, and most of the permits had remained the same for the last three years.  Councillor Backhouse asked the committee to consider the proposals in the report in the round, as an important element of the Council’s overall budget strategy.

Members of the committee then debated the call-in and questioned the Parking Manager and the Portfolio Holder, Councillor Backhouse.  At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Cockerill addressed the committee in his capacity as Filey ward councillor and communicated the views of Filey Town Council about proposed winter charging: their concerns that such charges would displace visitor parking to residents’ areas, as occurred during the summer, an in particular, that a winter charge on Coble Landing would displace cars to the Ravine which remained free in winter.  Councillor Mortimer in turn related the views of Fylingdales Parish Council: they accepted that Robin Hoods Bay annual residents’ permits should increase, but felt that the summer visitors’ permits should increase by the same proportion.  They were very  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.