CUSTOMER AND COMMUNITY SCRUTINY COMMITTEE 13 January 2015 *Chairman: Councillor Adrian Chandler *Vice-Chairman: Councillor Pauline Searle *Councillor Melanie Bright Councillor Julia McShane *Councillor Lizzie Griffiths *Councillor James Palmer Councillor Angela Gunning Mr Mike Parsons Councillor Jayne Hewlett *Councillor Tony Phillips Mrs Stella Howarth *Councillor Mrs Jennifer Powell Councillor Philip Hooper *Councillor Neil Ward * Councillor Diana Lockyer-Nibbs Councillor Jenny Wicks *Present Councillor Matt Furniss, Lead Councillor for Transport, Infrastructure and the Environment, Councillor Gordon Jackson, Lead Councillor for Economic Development, and Councillor Caroline Reeves were also in attendance. In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 23(j), Councillors David Goodwin and Nikki Nelson-Smith attended as substitutes for Councillors Julia McShane and Jenny Wicks respectively. CC45 – APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND NOTIFICATION OF SUBSTITUTES Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Angela Gunning, Jayne Hewlett, Philip Hooper, Julia McShane, and Jenny Wicks. The Committee was advised of substitutions as detailed above. CC46 – LOCAL CODE OF CONDUCT – DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS In relation to item 7, Electric Theatre – Working Group, and item 8, Yvonne Arnaud Annual Grant Award and Monitoring, a number of non-pecuniary interests were disclosed: Councillor Mrs Jennifer Powell advised that she was a trustee of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Trust, a member of the Yvonne Arnaud Management Board, a trustee of the Guildford Book Festival, and a Friend of the Electric Theatre. Councillor Tony Phillips advised that he was a trustee of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Trust and a member of the Yvonne Arnaud Management Board. Councillor Adrian Chandler advised he was a Friend of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre. Councillor Gordon Jackson advised he was a member of the Vanbrugh Club at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre. CC47 – MINUTES The minutes of the meeting of the Customer and Community Scrutiny Committee held on 2 December 2014 were confirmed and signed. The minutes of the meeting of the Joint Scrutiny Committee held on 13 November 2014 were confirmed as accurate. 20 CUSTOMER AND COMMUNITY SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: 13 JANUARY 2015 CC48 – WEY AHEAD NEWSLETTER ITEMS – COUNCILLOR QUESTIONS No questions were received. A Committee member commended the recent improvement to the Wey Ahead newsletter. CC49 – SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE BOROUGH OF GUILDFORD The Principal Engineer introduced Mr Alistair Cotton (Urban Water Planner, CH2MHILL) to the Committee. Mr Cotton gave a presentation summarising the methods and outputs of the Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP) for the Borough. The Lead Councillor for Transport, Infrastructure and the Environment commended the SWMP to the Committee. The Committee was advised of the need for a partnership approach to address identified flood hotspot locations. Questions from the Committee raised the following points and information: There was a need to encourage the formation of flood forums in some areas of the Borough. The Bellfields Green Space Project had not been consulted during the preparation of the SWMP. Large puddles on the highway in the locality of York Road were due to blocked gullies and the need for more strategic capacity. The Committee was advised that floods in the Borough commonly had more than one source and surface water was not being considered in isolation, but addressed in conjunction with other sources of flooding, including the River Wey. Wetspots data from Surrey County Council had been utilised in the preparation of the SWMP. The action plans within the SWMP included details of the agencies that would need to be involved and identified potential funding. Information on underground springs in the Borough was available from the Environment Agency website. The Committee was advised that there was limited scope for the Council to charge for maintenance of watercourses and grilles on non-Council land. In response to questions from members, the Executive Head of Environment indicated that watercourse and grille clearance would not cease unless ownership of the land was known and suitable arrangements were in place. The Committee agreed that the maintenance of watercourses and grilles on non-Council owned land should not cease and officers should undertake to recover the costs for the work from relevant landowners. The Committee, RESOLVED: That, subject to the points above, the recommendations in the report, as set out below, be adopted: 21 CUSTOMER AND COMMUNITY SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: 13 JANUARY 2015 (I) That the Committee support the Surface Water Management Plan (SWMP), approve the findings of the SWMP, and support the proposed Action Plan. (II) That the Committee recommends that the Executive: (a) Endorses the Surface Water Management Plan and Action Plan. (b) Agrees that the SWMP Project Board continues to oversee the management of the project with key partners. (c) Authorises the Executive Head of Environment, in consultation with the Lead Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Environment and the Executive Head of Governance, to enter such contracts as are necessary to progress the Action Plan within the capital resources available. CC50 – PARKING BUSINESS PLAN 2015-16 The Parking Manager introduced the Parking Business Plan, indicating it was a joint business plan covering off-street car parking, on-street parking, and park and ride. The Committee was advised of the importance of developing an updated parking strategy and ensuring all services are co-ordinated. The Parking Manager explained the “drive to, not through” model of car parking and outlined the benefits, including a lessening of congestion. The Committee was advised that increasing charges in long-stay car parks and encouraging park and ride would reduce congestion. The Parking Manager highlighted proposals to reduce the costs of park and ride and lower its subsidy. The Lead Councillor for Transport, Infrastructure and the Environment advised the Committee of a long term approach and plan for car parking and traffic in Guildford. Questions from the Committee raised the following points and information: The agreement with Surrey County Council to manage the on-street parking in Waverley started in April 2013, for a five-year period, with an expectation of a rolling agreement. The Parking Manager indicated that Guildford Borough Council could provide management of on-street parking in other boroughs keen for such arrangements. Members welcomed the proposal to give priority for garage lets to residents in areas A,B,C,D, E, or F of the controlled parking zone. Arrangements for enforcing the use of garages in accordance with leases were discussed. The Parking Manager confirmed that village parking hotspots were targeted for parking compliance. With reference to changing people’s behaviours and attitudes in relation to car parking, the need for effective communication and engagement was emphasised, rather than over-reliance on information signage. The results of the public consultation undertaken as part of the recent Fundamental Service Review (FSR) of Parking Services would be shared with Committee members within the final report confirming the findings and actions related to the FSR in March 2015. Compared with pay and display car parking, more complex parking tariffs could be used with pay on foot arrangements. Converting existing pay and display car 22 CUSTOMER AND COMMUNITY SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: 13 JANUARY 2015 parks to pay on foot often required redesign of entrances and exits. With reference to park and ride, the Committee was advised that any charges made for car parking were liable for VAT whereas charges for the bus journey were not. With reference to the combination of the mobile guarding service at the Artington and the Merrow Park park and ride sites, members were advised that CCTV could be monitored at one site while the guard was at another and the guard could also respond remotely to customer enquiries. The Committee, RESOLVED: That the Committee recommend to the Executive that the recommendations in the report, as set out below, be adopted: (I) a task group be established to develop a Parking Strategy which sets a framework for parking operations to support key strategic plans including the Local Plan, Town Centre Master Plan, and Local Transport Plan. (II) that the potential to develop Millbrook Car Park continue to be examined and that ways of changing existing car parks, or developing new ones, based on the “drive to, not through” principle be explored. (III) all interested parties discuss changes to the direction road signage, particularly where this will improve motorists’ ability to park in the first convenient car park. (IV) to encourage greater use of park and ride and address the increase in use the following tariff adjustments be approved: (a) Farnham Road Multi-Storey Car Park from 7.00am to 7.00pm Monday to Saturday from 90p per hour to £1.00 per hour with a maximum daily charge of £8. (b) York Road Multi-Storey Car Park from 8.00am to 6.00pm Monday to Saturday from 90p per hour to £1.00 per hour with a maximum daily charge of £8. (c) Guildford Park Car Park from £4.50 per day on Monday to Friday to £5.00 per day. (d) Shalford Park Car Park from £2.80 per day on Monday to Friday to £3.20 per day. (e) Walnut Tree Close Car Park from £3 per day on Monday to Friday to £3.20 per day. (V) the charge for season tickets in York and Farnham Road Multi-Storey Car Parks is increased by five per cent. (VI) the rental charges for garages managed by the Parking Service are increased by five per cent. (VII) when a garage becomes available, first priority is given to any resident living in areas A,B,C,D, E or F of the controlled parking zone. (VIII) the charge for contract parking is increased by five per cent. 23 CUSTOMER AND COMMUNITY SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: 13 JANUARY 2015 (IX) the annual revenue contribution to the Car Park Maintenance Reserve is reduced by £125,000 from April 2015.