Agenda item

An issues paper prepared by the Opposition Group is attached for the consideration of Council.

 

The Constitution Procedure Rules relating to Opposition Business are attached for information.

Councillor Neville introduced the issues paper prepared by the Conservative Group, seeking a review of the imposition of Sunday parking charges and consideration of the introduction of a free 20 minute on-street parking period at all times.

 

In introducing the paper he highlighted the case for carrying out measures which would help to address the economic downturn currently being experienced across many town centres, including those in Enfield.  The key issues raised included:

 

·              The need to recognise High Streets and retail shopping generally as a very important contributor to the local economy.

 

·              The correlation between free unlimited parking in shopping centres and the volume of retail spend, as supported in separate research undertaken for the Labour Government in 2009 and more recently by the Portas Review

 

·              The impact which the imposition of Sunday parking charges had had in terms of discouraging people from shopping in Enfield Town and in encouraging those who did come to stay for less time and therefore spend less money.  The impact on churchgoers in Enfield Town was also highlight as an issue of concern.

 

·              The impact of the availability of parking provision to attract retailers to new developments and alternative choice now available to shoppers in terms of the increase in the number of large out of town stores with free parking and growth in internet shopping.

 

·              The need to consider the recommendations within the Opposition Business Paper within the context of the extended downturn in the national economy and need for the Council to assist retail in looking to promote economic success across the borough.

 

·              Whilst shopping centres outside of Enfield Town were not affected by Sunday parking charges, the impact of the increase in parking charges was also highlighted.  As a means of assisting smaller businesses in local shopping centres to attract passing trade, the recommendation was also made that consideration be given to introducing a short period of free on-street parking where controls currently existed.

 

In order to demonstrate the level of local concern on the issues highlighted Councillor Neville then submitted a petition, which he advised contained over 7500 signatures from local residents, shoppers, retailers and churchgoers.

 

Councillor Neville then introduced the following representatives from local businesses in Enfield Town, who had been invited to address the Council under Opposition Business, in order to highlight their views on the issues raised:

 

(a)    Erdal Mehmet: Chairman of Enfield Business Association – who highlighted the support amongst local traders in Enfield Town that he had recently surveyed towards the following proposals:

·              The reduction in parking charges for those staying for less than 4 hours on Mon - Sat;

·              An increase in parking charges for shoppers staying for more than 4 hours on Mon - Sat;

·              The removal of Sunday parking charges in Enfield Town; and

·              The introduction of Pay on Exit within car parks

A further petition was presented containing signatures from local retailers and their customers.

 

(b)    Patricia Blair: Chairman of Palace Gardens Traders Association – who highlighted, as a representative of traders within Palace Gardens Shopping Centre:

·              The 2.81% decrease in footfall experienced by the main anchor retailers within Palace Gardens since the start of 2012, with a 12.44% decrease experienced on Sundays.

·              The downturn being experienced across the town centre, with 3 vacant units in Palace Gardens.

·              The detrimental impact which retailers felt the introduction of Sunday parking charges was having on trade and support for the proposals outlined by Erdal Mehmet as a means of helping to maintain the vibrancy of the Town Centre.

·              The open letter that she had written to the Mayor highlighting these concerns and the unanimous support amongst Palace Garden retailers for the removal of Sunday parking charges.

·              The concerns being raised were not politically driven, and had been based on the desire to maintain Enfield Town as a vibrant and thriving town centre.

 

(c)     Chris Theodoulou: representing independent traders in Enfield Town who highlighted:

·              The impact of the current economic downturn on his business, as one of the longest independent traders in Enfield Town with parking charges identified as one of the major issues.

·              The support amongst independent traders for the proposed actions identified by Erdal Mehmet.

 

Councillor Bond, Cabinet Member for Environment, responded on behalf of the Majority Group, highlighting that:

 

·              The decision to introduce Sunday parking charges in Enfield Town had been implemented following discussions with retailers, residents and churchgoers and had been designed to discourage people from parking all day who were not shopping, thereby increasing parking capacity in the town centre.

 

·              The need to recognise that the majority of people coming into Enfield Town on Sunday travelled on foot and by public transport.  Only 43% travelled by car.

 

·              Whilst recognising the importance of parking it was felt this needed to be seen within the context of other wider local issues affecting the High Street, including the quality of the retail offer and environment.

 

·              The current Administration’s borough wide approach towards improving town centres, which had also included use of funding generated through the Parking Places Reserve Account, to refurbish the Palace Gardens Shopping Centre car park and introduce CCTV.

 

·              The introduction of Sunday parking charges had not been a new concept, with the previous Administration also having considered the proposal.

 

·              The introduction of these charges in December 2012 had always been subject to a further period of review.  The petition submitted and comments made by local traders during the meeting would now be considered as part of that process.  The Cabinet member for Environment advised that he would be willing to meet with local traders and residents as part of the review process and thanked them for attending the meeting to highlight their views.

 

Other issues highlighted during the debate were as follows:

·              The need for immediate action, in order to address the reported decline in footfall within Enfield Town and increasing number of vacant retail units;

·              The lack of consensus on the direct correlation between parking charges and the displacement of shoppers to other out of town shopping centres;

·              The need to recognise the broad range of issues needing to addressed as part of an overall strategy recognising the impact of the current economic climate and decline in disposable income alongside the quality of the retail offer, local choice, environment and parking.

·              The need to address and avoid high levels of vacant retail units;

·              The need to bring forward a measured response in relation to the action required to address the downturn currently being experienced within High Streets.  This would need to be based on a full analysis and evaluation of all related issues with individual local solutions identified for each town centre.  The review identified by the Cabinet member for Environment had been designed to feed into that process.

 

After a brief period of debate, the Mayor advised members that 45 minute period set aside for Opposition Business had expired.  Council was therefore asked to consider, under Council Procedure Rule 13.1 if they wished to extend the time available to allow further debate.  On being put to the vote this was not agreed:

 

For: 25

Against: 31

Abstention: 0

 

Councillor Lavender summed up on behalf of the Opposition Group. Whilst recognising the need for the issues to be considered in the widest possible context and review process identified, he also felt there was a need for the Council to focus immediately on those areas within its direct control as a means of addressing the issues raised, which included parking and parking charges within Enfield Town, particularly on Sunday.  Without immediate action to address the reported decline in footfall, including the removal of Sunday parking charges, he felt it would be difficult to alter people’s shopping habits and attract people back to the town centre on a long term basis.

 

In response to the debate and recommendations made within the Opposition Business paper, Councillor Bond highlighted his commitment to the review of Sunday parking charges. He advised that this would be commenced with immediate effect and include the comments and proposals outlined by the local business representatives at the meeting and as part of the petition that had also been submitted by the Opposition Group.  On this basis, he was not minded to support the recommendations within the Opposition Business paper but reiterated that the comments and proposals highlighted during the meeting would be included for consideration as part of the review process.

 

The Leader of the Opposition requested that a vote was taken on the following recommendations within the Opposition Business paper:

 

(1)    that the decision of the Cabinet and subsequently the Cabinet Member for Environment to impose charges on Sunday parking be immediately reversed

 

(2)    that the Council introduces across the borough free parking for a period of up to 20 minutes where on street parking controls exist.

 

If the Council is not minded to make these decisions now:

 

(3)    that the Council refers the decision of the Cabinet and subsequently the Cabinet Member for Environment to impose charges on Sunday parking to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

 

(4)    that the Council refers the question of the introduction across the borough of free parking for a period of up to 20 minutes where on street parking controls exist to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

 

(5)    that a full report be prepared for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee by officers that explores fully the costs and benefits of the above two options;

 

(6)    that the Conservative opposition be permitted to present the report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

The above recommendations were then put to the vote and not agreed, with the following result

 

For: 26

Against: 31

Abstentions: 0