Issue - meetings

To note the report of the Director of Service Delivery (copy enclosed).

The Committee received the report of the Director of Service Delivery which related to the item of scrutiny on the Provision of Car Parking within the District.  The report provided background information on the park and ride service operated by Tesco as part of a Section 106 (S106) agreement as at appendix 1 of the report. 

A discussion ensued where Members commended the Director of Service Delivery on his report which highlighted aspects of the S106 agreement that needed to be reviewed and progressed.

It was acknowledged that the current free service was being used to take shoppers from the high street to Tesco rather than increase the footfall within the Highstreet, which Members surmised this could be due to the lack of signage identifying the fifty free spaces allocated to the Park and Ride Service and the lack of a marketing plan.  Further comment was made on the S106 agreement being legally enforceable.

Members explored the possibility of extending the Park and Ride Scheme, or creating a second route, to include the Garden Suburbs.  Councillor R H Siddall proposed that the park and ride scheme was looked at with the inclusion of the Garden Suburbs.  After much discussion the proposal was not seconded as it was considered that this would be a separate consideration under the item of scrutiny on the Programme of Work - Car Parking within the District to review the current scheme as set out in the S106 agreement.

Councillor R P F Dewick proposed that the Officers recommendations be approved, with the second recommendation “That Officers identify opportunities to extend the service to serve the new Garden Suburbs and report back to Members with any options identified...”  instead becoming a separate item of scrutiny.  This was duly seconded and upon a vote being taken the proposal was approved.

RESOLVED:

(i)              That a full review of the requirements as set out in the 106 agreement with Tesco is undertaken as a matter of urgency and Officers develop an action plan to ensure requirements are reviewed and progressed as required.

(ii)            That Officers report back to Members on progress relating activities associated with the existing 106 agreement within three months of the date of this committee.

(iii)          That a separate item of work is created to review parking arrangements within the Maldon and Heybridge Central Area.

(iv)           That a separate item of work is created to identify opportunities for a second park and ride scheme to serve the new Garden Suburbs and report back to Members with any options identified.