To consider the Mayor’s response to the Council objections to the Parking Strategy 2016-2021 as set out in the submitted report (Policy Framework).

Further to the Council meeting held on 22 September 2016, members considered the submitted report on the Mayor’s response to the objections raised by the Council on the Parking Strategy 2016-2021.

Councillor Excell proposed and Councillor King seconded a motion as set out below:

(i)         that the Torbay Council Parking Strategy 2016-2021, as set out in Appendix 2 to the submitted report, be adopted;

(ii)        that the Parking Operations Panel and Members involvement in the decision making process be reviewed after one year;  and

(iii)       that the Executive Head of Business Services be requested to explore other forms of camera technology, other than mobile camera enforcement vehicles, for example putting cameras on crossing patrol lollipops or permanent cameras outside schools (which would be funded by the schools) to address concerns about public safety, in particular road safety risks to children outside school entrances.

During the debate Councillor Thomas (D) proposed and Councillor Robson seconded an amendment to the motion as follows:

(i)         that the Council considers that the Mayor is attempting, within his proposed Parking Strategy (a Policy Framework document), to fetter his or a subsequent leader’s discretion to make a decision to use mobile technology, which also results in an operational approach rather than at a strategic level.  Therefore, the Council amends the Mayor’s proposed Parking Policy and adopts the Officer recommendation (as set out in (ii) below) to enable the Executive to introduce appropriate technology should they chose to do so;

(ii)        that the Torbay Council Parking Strategy 2016-2021, as set out in Appendix 2 to the submitted report, be adopted, except that the phrase “However, this Strategy does not support the use of mobile enforcement cameras” should be deleted on page 15 of the strategy, under the section marked ‘Fair Enforcement’, and replaced with the following statement :-

            “In particular the use of mobile enforcement cameras can improve road safety for children outside school entrances and reduce the road safety risks presented to public transport users. Strict operating procedures should be applied to the use of any mobile technology to ensure that fair enforcement is undertaken and the law abiding motorist is not penalised.”

(iii)       that the Parking Operations Panel and Members involvement in the decision making process be reviewed after one year;  and

(iii)       That the Executive Head of Business Services be requested to explore other forms of camera technology, other than mobile camera enforcement vehicles, for example putting cameras on crossing patrol lollipops or permanent cameras outside schools (which would be funded by the schools) to address concerns about public safety, in particular road safety risks to children outside school entrances.

A recorded vote was taken on the amendment.  The voting was taken by roll call as follows:  For: Councillors Barnby, Bent, Bye, Carter, Cunningham, Darling (M), Darling (S), Doggett, Ellery, Haddock, Hill, Lewis, Morey, Morris, O’Dwyer, Parrott, Pentney, Robson, Sanders, Stockman, Stocks, Stringer, Stubley, Sykes, Thomas (D), Thomas (J), Tyerman and Winfield (28);  Against:  Mayor Oliver; Councillors Amil, Excell, Manning and Mills (5); Abstain:  Councillors Brooks and King (2);  and Absent: Councillors Kingscote and Tolchard (2). Therefore, as more than two-thirds of members present and voting had cast their vote in support of the amendment, it was carried.

The amended (substantive) motion was then considered by members.

A recorded vote was taken on the amended (substantive) motion.  The voting was taken by roll call as follows:  For: Councillors Barnby, Bent, Bye, Carter, Cunningham, Darling (M), Darling (S), Doggett, Ellery, Haddock, Hill, Lewis, Morey, Morris, O’Dwyer, Parrott, Pentney, Robson, Sanders, Stockman, Stocks, Stringer, Sykes, Thomas (D), Thomas (J), Tyerman and Winfield (27);  Abstain:  Mayor Oliver and Councillors Amil, Brooks, Excell, King, Manning, Mills and Stubley (8);  and Absent: Councillors Kingscote and Tolchard (2).  Therefore, as more than two-thirds of members present and voting had cast their vote in support of the amended (substantive) motion, it was carried as follows:

(i)         that the Council considers that the Mayor is attempting, within his proposed Parking Strategy (a Policy Framework document), to fetter his or a subsequent leader’s discretion to make a decision to use mobile technology, which also results in an operational approach rather than at a strategic level.  Therefore, the Council amends the Mayor’s proposed Parking Policy and adopts the Officer recommendation (as set out in (ii) below) to enable the Executive to introduce appropriate technology should they chose to do so;

(ii)        that the Torbay Council Parking Strategy 2016-2021, as set out in Appendix 2 to the submitted report, be adopted, except that the phrase “However, this Strategy does not support the use of mobile enforcement cameras” should be deleted on page 15, under the section marked ‘Fair Enforcement’, and replaced with the following statement :-

            “In particular the use of mobile enforcement cameras can improve road safety for children outside school entrances and reduce the road safety risks presented to public transport users. Strict operating procedures should be applied to the use of any mobile technology to ensure that fair enforcement is undertaken and the law abiding motorist is not penalised.”

(iii)       that the Parking Operations Panel and Members involvement in the decision making process be reviewed after one year.

(Note:  Councillor Stocks left the meeting after this item.)