MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND TRANSPORT SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON THURSDAY, 17 JUNE 2004 COMMENCING AT 4.00 PM

Present :

Mr G P Price (Chairman), Mr J R Adams, Mr A C Bartlett (deputising for Mrs M J Miller), Mr V J Morey, Mrs E Oulton, Mr R C Richards, Mr R A Sutton (deputising for Mr A J Mundy)

Portfolio Holders :

Mrs T M Butchers, Mr E Fox

Apologies :

Mr M J Cunningham, Mrs M J Miller, Mr A J Mundy

Also Present (non voting) :

Mr J Effemey, Mr P G Harris, Miss H L Humby, Mrs M A Jarman

1. MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on 23 April 2004 were confirmed.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations at this stage.

3. CALL-IN OF THE EXECUTIVE MINUTE 12 – 2 JUNE 2004 – OBJECTIONS TO THE CAR PARKING ORDER 2004

A call-in of the decision by the Executive held on 2 June 2004 relating to the 2004 Car parking Order had been signed by Mr Mundy, Mrs Oulton, Mr Cunningham and Mr Adams. The call-in indicated that relevant evidence had not been given for the decision and did not achieve the aims of providing funds for public transport. Mr Sutton, on behalf of those signing the call-in, requested that the Executive reconsider the Order to enable full consideration to be given to a factual and concise business case in respect of all car parks. The estimated income arising from the implementation of the proposals would not be achieved. An special residents permit should also be introduced immediately with a charge of £80 for car parks and £100 for residential zones.

The Select Committee was advised by the Monitoring Officer that the decision was within the budget and policy framework and could not be deemed unlawful. The Select Committee could however, after receiving the comments of the Portfolio Holder, make further recommendations to him on the issues involved.

The Portfolio Holder referred to the discussions held by the Executive at its meeting on 2 June 2004. He indicated that, as the result of the Select Committee’s debate on 23 April 2004, officers had supplied him with a business case for the new areas where charging was proposed. As a result of this a number of areas had been deleted from the Order due to there being no economic benefit. The difficulties associated with introducing charges at car parks adjacent to Heights, Newport Arboretum and Seaclose has also been recognised. Action had been deferred on this whilst the possibility of double ticketing would be explored. The implementation of charges at Wootton, Seaview and Carisbrooke was also deferred to enable consultation on various issues to be undertaken

The Portfolio Holder explained that initial investigations into an Island residents permit costing £80 suggested that this could have a detrimental effect on the income level from car parking thereby reducing the budget available for public transport initiatives. He was willing however to consider trialling a permit scheme for car parks associated with leisure facilities.

The Select Committee debated the desired outcome contained in the call-in but considered that the Portfolio Holder had taken into account the views expressed at the meeting on 23 April 2004 when reporting to the Executive.

ACTION TO BE TAKEN BY THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR TRANSPORT

The Select Committee supports the decision of the Executive on 2 June 2004 Committee and in particular supports the Portfolio Holder in the development of innovative solutions to the problems identified at that meeting.

CHAIRMAN