Item under SO23(2) - Parking Permits
In accordance with Standing Order 23(2) Councillor Brazil has requested that the Committee consider this matter, ie:-
(a) Exemptions for Carers
(b) Use by builders etc.
Minutes:
The Committee noted that, in accordance with Standing Order 23, Councillor Brazil had asked that the Committee consider the following:-
(a) Exemptions for Carers
Councillor Brazil reported that this was an issue in towns such as Kingsbridge and Dartmouth, particularly with increasingly more care being delivered within the local community and health & social care professionals having nowhere suitable to park near to client’s homes, exacerbated in the holiday season. Members considered it was an appropriate time to review the County Council’s approach to support this crucial service.
The Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste advised that the County Council had been promoting the exemptions for carers visiting clients at the home address for several years, and most recently had extended provision to include areas of Pay & Display. The scheme had been well received with positive feedback from monitoring after relaunching. None the less, in several communities there had been continued concerns regarding access to parking. This typically resulted in limited residents parking restrictions meaning less opportunity to utilise the exemption and greater competing demand for parking from other users (i.e. visitors, commuters, and shoppers). It had been requested that Officers look to extend provision to allow access to single and double yellow lines where there were not these competing demands.
Officers were initially undertaking benchmarking work to understand what was being done in other Authorities to address this issue. Following benchmarking, it was proposed that an extended scheme to meet the needs of care providers be considered. As this was a countywide matter this should be considered by Cabinet.
RESOLVED that Cabinet be asked to note that the South Hams HATOC supports a review of exemption parking permits for carers with a countywide approach and asks that Cabinet consider this with a view to it being carried out as soon as possible.
(b) Use by Builders and Tradesmen
Councillor Brazil reported on the ongoing abuse of the exemption parking permits for access to buildings and sites both annual and temporary, by a minority of tradesmen with evidence of several trade vehicles parked at a time in the main streets of Kingsbridge. Other towns such as Salcombe also experienced this. This was of concern to local shopkeepers where it prevented or discouraged reasonable access to the shopping areas by the public.
The Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste preferred initially to follow up on specific incidents, rather than impose blanket restrictions that could affect the majority of such permit holders operating within the scheme. Verbal or physical abuse of Enforcement Officers would not be tolerated and permits could be removed where necessary.
RESOLVED that this matter be kept under review.