Agenda item - Elm Grove, Brighton- management of highway parking and obstructions

Report of the Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

1.    That Committee notes the outcome of the public consultation on a scheme for environmental improvements in Elm Grove and that it is not proposed to proceed with the scheme in view of the majority of residents who responded being opposed to the scheme.

2.         That Committee authorises officers to organise a joint initiative with Sussex Police to co-ordinate enforcement of parking contraventions, obstructions and other nuisances on the public highway in Elm Grove later this year.

32.1         The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing that provided the outcome of the public consultation into proposed improvements in Elm Grove and the decision not to proceed with the proposals on the basis of the results. The report also requested authorisation to organise a joint initiative with Sussex Police to co-ordinate enforcement of parking contraventions, obstructions and other nuisances on the public highway in Elm Grove later in 2013.

32.2         Councillor Davey enquired as to who was involved in the previous consultation process.

32.3         The Programme Manager & Policy Development Officer clarified that the previous consultation process had been initiated by the former local councillor Matt Follett and proposals had been worked upon in co-operation with the Hanover Local Action Team and Elm Grove Community Action Group amongst others.

32.4         Councillor Theobald asked why yellow lines had been marked on the road if they were not enforced.

32.5         The Programme Manager & Policy Development Officer clarified that the lines had been marked in the 1980’s and reviewed several times, most recently in 2012. The lines were mainly placed at junctions on the road. The Programme Manager & Policy Development Officer added that outside CPZ’s, enforcement was discretionary according to the resources to do so.

32.6         Councillor Simson noted that significant increases in enforcement were made under the previous Conservative administration that had not been sustained. Councillor Simson asked how this would be done on this occasion.

32.7         The Programme Manager & Policy Development Officer replied enforcement measures were referred to in-depth within the report and it was certainly the authorities and Sussex Police intention to do so subject to approval of the report. The Programme Manager & Policy Development Officer stated that Elm Grove should be maintained just as anywhere else in the city and the collision and accident study referred to at 3.9 of the report, demonstrated the urgent need to do so.

32.8         Councillor Daniel requested that the Committee defer the report for twelve months. Councillor Daniel explained that the local community groups had recently unanimously agreed to move forward with the proposals initially with a questionnaire they all had designed. Councillor Daniel asked the Committee to defer a decision to give the local community a chance.

32.9         Councillor Hawtree stated that the matter of highway parking was a long running issue that had not been dealt with satisfactorily and in his view, accepting the proposals would make Elm Grove safer.

32.10    Councillor Mitchell stated that if the Committee accepted the proposals, it would ignore the wishes of a whole constituency and the ward councillors who had voted against the consultation proposals. Councillor Mitchell added that in her view, residents should be given another opportunity within a twelve month timeframe and if no agreement could be reached then enforcement measures should be put in to place. Councillor Mitchell supplemented that whilst she did not condone illegal parking, residents now understood the need for a solution. Councillor Mitchell requested that ward councillors, residents and the community groups be given twelve months to work on proposals for a solution. Councillor Mitchell added that whilst the current situation could not continue there was an alternative method and for any measures to work, they would require the buy-in and all the aforementioned groups and local residents.

32.11    The Chair stated that it was clear the entire Committee agreed that the situation was unsafe however; no amendment had been put forward as an alternative to the recommendations by any political group.

32.12    Councillor Cox stated that the report described long-term practice and custom of extremely dangerous driving and parking in Elm Grove that the Committee were being asked by the Labour & Co-operative Group to ignore for another year. Councillor Cox stated in his view, that was not tenable and the Committee had to consider people’s safety first and foremost and a deliberate decision not to opt for enforcement would seriously question Members sense of judgement and civic responsibilities.

32.13    Councillor Sykes stated that he had visited the Elm Grove recently and viewed areas where parking was complete chaos. Councillor Sykes believed the Committee had to be responsible and should begin enforcement to ensure peoples safety.

32.14    Councillor Davey stated that the illegal parking issue in Elm Grove had a very long history adding that two years ago, the administration had agreed with the community to come up with a solution. Councillor Davey stated that the proposed solution had been rejected and he could not see any other option aside from beginning enforcement action. Councillor Davey added that he had recently been contacted three times by a shop owner in the area who had informed him of incidents of cars driving down the pavement nearly colliding with customers exiting his shop. Councillor Davey supplemented that significant efforts had been made to find a solution in partnership with the local community that had not been reached. Councillor Davey expressed his belief that enforcement actions begin which could work alongside continued work with the local community to find a holistic solution.

32.15    Councillor Simson stated that enforcement should have been instigated a long time ago and could not understand why such behaviour had been allowed to continue. Councillor Simson stated her empathy with the Labour & Co-operative Group’s request for deferral as the best solution to fix such a long term culture would be to work up from grassroots level with the buy-in of the local community.

32.16    Councillor Theobald stated his support for beginning enforcement action as there were significant safety issues that the Committee could not ignore. Councillor Theobald also relayed his support for continuing to work with the local community to find a widely accepted solution.

32.17    The Chair then put the vote with the following outcome:

For: 6

Against: 3

Abstentions: 1

32.18    RESOLVED-

1.        That Committee notes the outcome of the public consultation on a scheme for environmental improvements in Elm Grove and that it is not proposed to proceed with the scheme in view of the majority of residents who responded being opposed to the scheme.

2.         That Committee authorises officers to organise a joint initiative with Sussex Police to co-ordinate enforcement of parking contraventions, obstructions and other nuisances on the public highway in Elm Grove later this year.