Issue - meetings

Considered a report of the Corporate Director Environment in respect of a Residents Parking Petition for Back Dragon Avenue, Harrogate.

The Corporate Director Environment, Karl Battersby introduced the report noting that the petition did not meet the 50% threshold for a residents parking scheme and highlighted concerns around the activities of a commercial garage which could be addressed using different legislation. Chair of Harrogate and Knaresborough Area Committee, Councillor Peter Lacey addressed the meeting noting the length of time it had taken the petition to reach this decision stage and welcoming the review of the decision-making process as outlined under the earlier agenda item, Proposed Changes to the Constitution.

Resolved (unanimously) that the Executive does not support the petition for new residents parking in Harrogate.

Reasons for recommendation

Given the impact on both historical parking arrangements and the operational management of the network, designating these areas as residential parking would cause issues on the surrounding network. At the moment, these streets can be used as additional parking for multiple surrounding streets which may be oversubscribed during peak times and could detrimentally impact the commercial area directly adjacent the street in question. The petition has also not identified a source of funding for the scheme or reached 50% support so in line with the existing residents policy and has therefore not met the criteria for Stage 1. Officers do not recommend taking this petition forward for implementation in line with current policy.