Decision details

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, subject to the outcome of the public consultation, seeking to amend existing policy to allow Resident Only permits to be issued in the City Centre On Street Pay and Display Zone.

(i)  To amend section 4(a) of the Strategic Level Parking Policy (previously approved by Cabinet on the 17 March 2008) to allow the provision of on street resident permit parking within the City Centre, subject to meeting the tests outlined in Appendix 1;

(ii)  To amend the Parking permits for Residential Developments Policy (previously approved by Cabinet on the 16 October 2006) to allow occupiers of City Centre developments approved since 2001, entitlement to on street resident permit schemes.  This policy amendment is to be incorporated into section 4(a) of the Strategic Level Parking Policy, as outlined in Appendix 1.  The existing policy is retained for Resident Only Parking Schemes outside the City Centre; and

(iii)  To delegate to the Head of Transport, Highways and Parking, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, to determine detailed proposals, including permits costs, and advertise Traffic Regulation Orders for City Centre on street resident permit schemes, in accordance with the revised policy outlined in Appendix 1, and taking account of the public consultation summarised in Appendix 3.

To amend existing policy to allow the provision of on street resident permit zone parking within the City Centre, where this would not adversely affect the City Centre economy.

(i)  Do not amend Southampton City Council Parking Policy.  City Centre residents will continue to have extremely limited access to car parking in the vicinity of their properties.

(ii)  Allow resident only parking schemes to be introduced across the whole City Centre.  This would lead to conflicting demands on parking spaces in close proximity to retail areas which could restrict access for shoppers and visitors, which would have an adverse impact on the City Centre economy (primarily within the Red Zone of the City Centre Pay and Display Zone).  The proposed policy would therefore only allow permit schemes to be introduced where there is sufficient capacity to accommodate resident only bays.