Decision details

Consider future options for the car park.

Public Question

A member of the public asked a question as set out below.

 

Mr Lucas-Smith raised the following points:

      i.          Referred to the Cambridge Cycling Campaign representation.

    ii.          Said that Park Street Cycle Park could be a success, this was an opportunity to install secure parking facilities and more space for bikes.

 iii.          Took issue with the consultation process.

  iv.          The cost of congestion should be considered.

 

The Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport said bike and car parking would be included in the improvement work.

 

Matter for Decision

A report examining viable options for the future of Park Street multi-storey car park was presented to members in June 2012. It considered the outline business case for refurbishing the car park and examined the potential and implications of alternative redevelopment of the site.

The report found that due to the deteriorating structural condition of the car park, it could not be left in its current state.

The Executive Councillor’s recommendations included an agreement to the principle of consulting the public and stakeholders about the options to refurbish, or to redevelop the Park Street car park. Authority was delegated to the Director of Environment in consultation with the Executive Councillor to carry out a public consultation exercise to determine the best option and report the results to the Council in due course.

A public consultation exercise was conducted between 18 August and 19 September 2014. 

In light of the consultation feedback, a detailed appraisal of the alternative options should now be carried out. The appraisal should recommend an option to members that is consistent with the council’s economic, financial environmental and planning objectives, so that the project can be incorporated into the council’s future budget.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport

       i.          Noted and considered the feedback and analysis from the public and business consultation exercise.

     ii.          Instructed officers to work up detailed financial evaluation of the options and taking account of the consultation feedback against the objectives set out in this report.

   iii.          Instructed officers to report back to a future meeting of the Environment Scrutiny Committee to enable a decision to be made on the preferred option for inclusion in the Council’s budget.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Head of Specialist Services.

 

The Committee made the following comments in response to the report:

       i.          The car park should be redeveloped.

     ii.          Suggested that Stagecoach could be asked to re-instate Madingley Road bus stops.

   iii.          Requested Park&Ride services be temporarily changed to operate late at night during refurbishment work to the car park so people could commute to the theatre etc was the car park was unavailable.

 

In response to Members’ questions the Head of Specialist Services said the following:

       i.          There was no firm commitment regarding the design at present, only that cycle parking facilities would be provided.

     ii.          Consultation responses had been received from the Cambridge Cycling Campaign plus individual cyclists and businesses.

 

The Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport said the consultation was open to all, it was up to people to respond.

 

   iii.          Several options were set out in the Officer’s report for Councillor consideration as it was prudent to make Councillors aware of all options.

   iv.          Changes to bus services were a key consideration for discussion with the County Council. Other providers may be able to make alternative parking spaces available if Park Street was not.

    v.          The City Council worked with Cambridge BID to interact with businesses.

 

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations. He said the logistics for options needed to be looked at (eg traffic flow to the site) to ensure they were practicable.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.