Attached to the agenda are:

·  Call-in procedure  (Page 1)

·  Call-in form  (Pages 3 – 4)

·  Cabinet report of 19 June, 2017  (Pages 5 – 31)

·  Cabinet minute 10  (Pages 33 – 35)

The Chair referred to the Cabinet decision of 19 June, 2017 (minute 10 refers) in respect of Car Parking Charges Traffic Regulation Order – Consideration of further representations.

The decision had been called-in by Councillors Tom Anderson, Bruce Berry, Chris Blakeley, Eddie Boult, David Burgess-Joyce, Wendy Clements, David Elderton, Gerry Ellis, Jeff Green, John Hale, Paul Hayes, Andrew Hodson, Kathy Hodson, Ian Lewis, Tracey Pilgrim, Cherry Povall, Lesley Rennie, Les Rowlands, Adam Sykes, Geoffrey Watt and Steve Williams, on the following grounds:

“The signatories wish to call-in the following decisions by Cabinet:

(2) approves the increase in car parking tariffs at all Council operated car parks, where charges already apply, by 20p;

(3) approves the introduction of car parking charges in country parks with charges of 50p for 1 hour, £1 for 2 hours and £2 all day in Arrowe Country Park, Royden Country Park, Eastham Country Park and Thurstaston Country Park.

(4) approves the introduction of a household membership scheme for the use of country parks in (3) at a cost of £50 per annum

Reasons for Call-in:

Whilst we note and welcome the considerable changes since the original proposals for car parking income generation were put forward in December 2016 which proposed:

·  a 50p tariff increase at all Council operated car parks

·  the introduction of a flat rate tariff of £4 per day at the country parks

·  the introduction of parking charges at New Brighton and other shopping centres

We still believe that ANY increase in car parking tariffs will have a damaging effect for Wirral’s shopping centres and the introduction of car parking charges in our parks will do untold damage to the small businesses associated with them.

We are also concerned that the introduction of car parking charges at Wirral’s parks is incompatible with the Council’s Public Health responsibilities and the following Pledges from the Wirral Plan:

Older people live well

Thriving small businesses

Greater job opportunities in Wirral

Vibrant tourism economy

Leisure and cultural opportunities for all

Wirral residents live healthier lives

Accordingly, we consider it appropriate that the Cabinet decision be reviewed as insufficient weight has been attached to the non-compatibility of these charges with the Wirral Plan Pledges and the serious concerns raised by local businesses and users of the parks.”

The Chair then invited the lead signatory to the call-in to address the Committee for up to five minutes.

Explanation of Call-in by the Lead Signatory – Councillor Tom Anderson

Councillor Anderson referred to the number of signatories to the petition and that the 1,195 signatory petition was in addition to the 20,000 signatories who had already signed the petition. Comments and objections should have been considered by the Highways and Traffic Representation Panel which had been by-passed in the decision making process. A number of witnesses would be called before the Committee to explain the impact the proposed charges would have on their businesses and their lives. He referred to the partial u-turn the Leader of the Council had taken in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15

Councillor Stuart Whittingham introduced a report which considered representations submitted against the modified Traffic Regulation Order consulted upon in respect of the following proposed car parking charges budget savings options:

·   Increase car parking tariffs at all Council operated car parks by 20p; and

·   Introduce car parking charges in country parks with charges of 50p for 1 hour, £1 for 2 hours and £2 all day in Arrowe Country Park, Royden Country Park, Eastham Country Park and Thurstaston Country Park.

The report recommended approval of a revised set of proposals taking into account the representations received to the modified published proposals.

The Cabinet noted that the Wirral Plan 2020 pledge relevant to this report, and to the parking service area, was Pledge Thirteen: Transport and Technology Infrastructure fit for the future, and the proposal supported the Transport Strategy priority to keep traffic moving safely and efficiently.

Councillor Whittingham referred to the Government’s austerity measures which had meant tough decisions like these ones having to be taken.  He informed that Council Services, as well as other Public Services e.g. Police and Fire, NHS, were being cut to the bone.

Councillor Whittingham drew attention to the fact that  even though the proposals had been reduced from those originally consulted on back in January 2017, there was still an important requirement of the statutory process to give notice to inform persons affected of the modifications and to give due consideration to any further representations received.

  Notices had been erected at the sites and a public notice had formally advertised this in the local press on 8 March 2017.  During this formal notice period the following further representations have been received:

·  141 individual representations (via letter or email) to all of the modified car parking charges budget proposals; and

·  16 of the individual representations included specific traffic management concerns. The general concern was of the traffic impact in other areas, displaced parking in to adjacent roads, traffic congestion, blocked access, dangerous parking, road safety concerns, conflict and inconvenience with residents.

  On detailed assessment, officers were satisfied that there were no fundamentally different or new points being raised that had not already been considered  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10