Issue - items at meetings - Area H Extension Areas Resident Parking Scheme Formal Consultation

Report of the Director of Environment (copy attached).

(1)         That having taken account of all duly made representations and objections, the Cabinet Member approves as advertised the following order;

(a)         Brighton & Hove Various Controlled Parking Zone Consolidation Order 2008 Amendment Order No* 20** (Area H Extension).

(2)         That any amendments included in the report and subsequent requests deemed appropriate by officers be added to the proposed scheme during implementation and advertised as an amendment traffic regulation order.

13.1         The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Environment addressing comments and objections to the draft traffic regulation order for the Area H extension parking scheme proposal and seeking approval for the order, subject to any amendments.

13.2         The Cabinet Member advised that the proposal had been outlined in an advertised Traffic Regulation Order following the decision made at the Environment Cabinet Member Meeting on 24 September 2009 and was supported by Ward Councillors. He reported that only six objections have been received to the traffic order which was a very small amount for a residents parking scheme proposal and that only four were within the affected area.

13.3         Councillor West suggested that it was worrying that very few responses had been received and raised concerns about the level of engagement with residents.

13.4         The Parking Strategy Manager explained that informal consultation had already taken place, with 60% of residents in favour of the proposals. The Council had subsequently followed the same process used for all parking scheme consultations, but received only a small number of objections; a number notices had been placed on every street and were replaced several times during the consultation period.

13.5         The Director of Environment explained that if officers would have expected to hear very early on in the process if residents or ward councillors opposed the proposed scheme. She added that the council was only requesting objections at this point in the process and that officers were confident that residents were aware and happy with what had been proposed.

13.6         The Cabinet Member stated that the proposals were well-publicised and that, if only a few objections were received, the council had to assume that residents and ward councillors were happy.

13.7         RESOLVED - That having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendations:

(1)         That having taken account of all duly made representations and objections, the following order be advertised;

(a)         Brighton & Hove Various Controlled Parking Zone Consolidation Order 2008 Amendment Order No* 20** (Area H Extension).

(2)         That any amendments included in the report and subsequent requests deemed appropriate by officers be added to the proposed scheme during implementation and advertised as an amendment traffic regulation order.