Agenda item

The Committee had before it (1) a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee which sought approval to implement revised car parking charges for 2013/14 to deliver the budgeted income identified within the Council’s five year business plan; and (2) a further report by the Director which outlined measures to address issues raised by the current parking arrangements in Golden Square.

The Convener proposed that the two reports be considered together and the Committee agreed.

The report at (1) recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       approve the revised car parking charges for:

(i)         short stay car parks, set out in Appendix A of the report;

(ii)        for monthly off street permits to be increased to £210; and

(iii)       for residents’ permits as set out in option 3, Appendix B with all revised charges to take effect from as early as possible in the financial year 2013/14 taking into account the need to advertise these changes; and

(b)       agree to the re-designation of Jacks Brae Car Park to a maximum stay of 2 hours (other than for designated other users e.g. residents) with its hourly charges remaining at current levels.

The report at (2) recommended:-

that the Committee –

(a)       instruct officers to relocate the parking meters within the off-street car park in Golden Square adjacent to the central walled area which contains the statue of George Gordon, 5^th Duke of Gordon;

(b)       instruct officers to relocate the parking meters within the on-street parking area in Golden Square to more central locations near North and South Silver Street and to replace the existing meters with modern equivalents able to incorporate new technology and modern chipsets; and

(c)        instruct officers to amend the signage within the off-street car park to reflect the difference between the different parking meters.

The Convener, seconded by the Councillor Finlayson, moved:-

that the Committee –

(a)       approve the revised car parking charges for:

(i)         short stay car parks, set out in Appendix A of the report; and

(ii)        for monthly off street permits to be increased to £210; with all revised charges to take effect from as early as possible in the financial year 2013/14 taking into account the need to advertise these changes;

(b)       that residents’ parking permits be capped at 2009 levels and that the associated financial implications be referred to the Urgent Business Committee;

(c)        agree to the re-designation of Jacks Brae Car Park to a maximum stay of 2 hours (other than for designated other users e.g. residents) with its hourly charges remaining at current levels; and

(d)       instruct the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure to carry out a complete reappraisal of parking charges in the city taking into consideration our Smarter City objectives and that a report be brought to the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee on 12 November 2013.

Councillor Yuill, seconded by Councillor Delaney, moved as an amendment:-

that the Committee –

(a)       agree to cut the cost of residents’ permits for the first car in a household to £65 in 2013/14 with a view to cutting this further to £50 in 2014/15; and

(b)       request that the Finance and Resources Committee identify the £340,000 funding required for (a) above, with a recommendation that this be funded from the projected surplus in 2012/13 Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Revenue Budget.

Councillor McCaig, seconded by Councillor Corall, moved as a further amendment:-

that the Committee approve the revised car parking charges for residents’ permits as set out in option 3, Appendix B of the report.

The Committee agreed to suspend Standing Order 12(5) to enable the Convener to hold the motion, on the basis that this would otherwise be held by Councillor McCaig who was moving the terms of the recommendation in the report as they related to residents’ parking permits.

In terms of Standing Order 12(9), a division between the two amendments was taken.

On a division, there voted:-  for Councillor Yuill’s amendment (2) – Councillors Delaney and Yuill; for Councillor McCaig’s amendment (5) – Councillors Corall, Cormie, MacGregor, McCaig and Townson; declined to vote (8) – the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Boulton, Finlayson, Grant, Jean Morrison MBE, Thomson and Young.

On a further division between the motion and the successful amendment by Councillor McCaig, there voted:-  for the motion (10) – the Convener, the Vice Convener and Councillors Boulton, Delaney, Finlayson, Grant, Jean Morrison MBE, Thomson, Young and Yuill; for the amendment by Councillor McCaig (5) – Councillors Corall, Cormie, MacGregor, McCaig and Townson.

The Committee resolved:-

to adopt the motion.