Issue - meetings

THE CABINET MEMBER – COUNCILLOR GARETH GRIFFITH

To update the Committee on the progress to date in terms of managing vehicles and powers in relation to motorists who park illegally.

To accept the report and note the observations received.

An update was presented by the Head of the Environment Department on the progress to date on the Task Group recommendations. The committee was reminded that the Task Group was established in July 2019 to undertake a comprehensive review of the current operational parking strategy and consider its suitability and relevance to the Council's requirements and the requirements of its communities today. It was explained that reviewing the parking arrangements across the County was also inevitable in terms of financial sustainability and the authority’s budgets to ensure that our practical management arrangements are effective and efficient. It was added that a comprehensive report was submitted to the Communities Scrutiny Committee in December 2020, proposing innovative and appropriate recommendations for solving some of the issues relating to parking. A final report was presented to the Cabinet in February 2021, and the following was approved: 

·         Adopt a new Parking Fees Structure that will ensure consistency across the County

·         Review the parking proposal over the Christmas period

·         No changes to the Blue Badge Scheme

·         No changes to the Resident Parking Scheme

·         Strengthen the Parking Enforcement Team

It was confirmed that these recommendations had been implemented.

As a result of the pandemic restrictions, it was recognised that a number of issues had a considerable impact on the County's communities in the context of parking. A further update was given on the work undertaken to respond to two specific areas, namely management of motorhomes and powers to deal with motorists who park illegally.

In the context of motorhomes, it was explained, in response to a number of complaints about motorhomes parking in unsuitable locations and the lack of control over these vehicles in the County, that extensive work had been undertaken jointly with the Economy Department to try and identify the implications of the increase in motorhome use (due to overseas travel restrictions) and the impact within the County.  Caravan site operators in Gwynedd, the motorhome sector as well as the public and communities across the County were consulted via a questionnaire and it was reported that the response had been very positive and highlighted the need for measures to better manage the motorhome sector in the County.

Following the decision made by Cabinet in November 2021, a pilot scheme to develop parking spaces for motorhomes in the Council's car parks was adopted to encourage the use of town centres and reduce the density of motorhomes who use unsuitable parking places. It was added that a Project Board had been established to proceed with the work and planning applications would need to be submitted to adapt the car parks in question.

It was explained that in the context of adopting powers to tow vehicles away, that the system had come into force as a result of parking problems across the County, particularly in the Llyn Ogwen and Pen y Pas areas.  It was considered that a fine of £35 was not a sufficient deterrent, and therefore a scheme to remove vehicles was implemented if they  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5