AGENDA ITEM NO. 15
EXECUTIVE BOARD
14TH DECEMBER 2009

FREE CAR PARKING INITIATIVE FOR THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD - 2009

RECOMMENDATIONS / KEY DECISIONS REQUIRED:

    ● That Executive Board approves the introduction of free car parking after 10.00 hours in all towns in the two weeks leading up to Christmas 2009

REASONS:

To support the vitality and vibrancy of the County’s Town Centres during this critical trading period for retailers.

Relevant Scrutiny Committee Consulted NA
Exec Board Decision Required YES
Council Decision Required NA

Directorate
Technical Services
Name of Head of Service:
T Sage
Report Author:
T Sage

Designations:

Head of Transport & Engineering

Tel Nos. 01267 224332

E Mail Addresses:
TSage@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
EXECUTIVE BOARD
14TH DECEMBER 2009

Free Car Parking Initiative for the Christmas Period - 2009

Last Christmas the County Council approved the introduction of free Christmas parking in all town centres in response to community concerns along with economic conditions. Members acknowledged that the vitality and vibrancy of our Town Centres provides a key contribution to the local economy.
The Authority is also supporting town centres through other initiatives such as the free Park and Ride service at Carmarthen, free car parking for up to 4 hours in Llanelli on Saturdays and the introduction of a lower short stay charging band in rural towns. All these measures have been introduced to support the local economy and with the national economic climate continuing to be challenging, it is appropriate to consider introducing a further short term initiative to provide support for traders over the forthcoming Christmas period, as happened in 2008. Executive Board is therefore asked to consider the following proposal:

    To provide free car parking in all the Council's public car parks from 10.00 hours in the two weeks leading up to Christmas i.e. Thursday 10th December - Thursday 24th December inclusive. This is favoured because:-
    · The hours prevent commuters using the best spaces all day.
    · Income is still generated by commuters.
    · Shoppers are encouraged to the Town Centres in the run up to Christmas

During this period the Council's Civil Enforcement Officers will continue to patrol to ensure that parking is managed and that on-street parking is discouraged.

The financial implications of this proposal will result in a loss of income which is anticipated to be approximately £70k for the whole County.

Recommendation:

That Executive Board approves the introduction of free car parking after 1000 hours in all towns for the two week period leading up to Christmas 2009.

DETAILED REPORT ATTACHED ?

NO

INTEGRATION

I confirm that the Community Strategy Integration Tool has:

Not been used to appraise the subject of this report as it is not appropriate to do so.

Signed: T Sage Head of Transport & Engineering

IMPLICATIONS

I confirm that other than those implications which have been agreed with the appropriate Directors / Heads of Service and are referred to in detail below, there are no other implications associated with this report :

Signed: T Sage Head of Transport & Engineering

Policy, Crime & Disorder and Equalities

Legal

Finance

ICT

Risk Management Issues

Staffing Implications

Physical Assets

NONE

NONE

YES

NONE

NONE

NONE

NONE

1. Finance

The financial implications of this proposal will result in a loss of income which is anticipated to be approximately £70k for the whole County and the costs will be met from the Council’s “Helping Businesses Fund”.

    MER

CONSULTATIONS

I confirm that the appropriate consultations have taken in place and the outcomes are as detailed below

Signed: T Sage Head of Transport & Engineering

(Please specify the outcomes of consultations undertaken where they arise against the following headings)
1.Local Member(s) - N/A

2.Community / Town Council – N/A

3.Relevant Partners - N/A

4.Staff Side Representatives and other Organisations - N/A

Section 100D Local Government Act, 1972 – Access to Information
List of Background Papers used in the preparation of this report:
THERE ARE NONE

Title of Document

File Ref No.

Locations that the papers are available for public inspection