Decision details

(i) To recommend to The Executive that they recommend to Council budget proposals for the financial year ended 31 March 2018 in respect of Revenue and Capital, together with approval of the Capital Plan and its associated funding.
(ii) To agree revised charges, where appropriate, for the year ended 31 March 2018.
(iii) To approve remits of any earmarked reserves proposed.
(iv) To approve any delegations arising from items above.

Matter for Decision

The report detailed the budget proposals relating to the Planning Policy and Transport portfolio that were included in the Budget-Setting Report (BSR) 2017/18.

 

Decision of Executive Councillor for Planning Policy and Transport

Review of Charges:

       i.          Approved the proposed charges for this portfolio’s services and facilities, as shown in Appendix A of the Officer’s report.

Revenue:

     ii.          Noted the revenue budget proposals as shown in Appendix B of the Officer’s report.

Capital:

   iii.          Noted the capital budget proposals as shown in Appendix C of the Officer’s report.

 

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 Principal Accountant (Services).

 

The Commercial Operations Manager said the following in response to Members’ questions:

       i.          Organisations representing retailers in the Grand Arcade and Grafton Centre had responded to the fees and charges consultation (P29 agenda pack). This could be noted in the next iteration of documents to clarify who had responded.

     ii.          Consultation responses had been invited from:

a.    Contacts on database of retailers.

b.    The public via press adverts.

c.    Internal communication contacts.

 

The Head of Commercial Services said it was a public consultation of residents and businesses.

 

   iii.          Undertook to clarify after the meeting if city centre churches had been approached in the consultation.

   iv.          The rationale to change parking fees and charges was to encourage a modal shift from private cars to walking and public transport. Fees could be raised on Sunday plus reduced on Monday and Tuesday to manage demand and even it out over the week (if changes were implemented). Retail demand varied over days of the week; peak demand was Wednesday to Friday, lowest demand levels were Monday and Tuesday. It was hoped that changes to fees/charges would encourage people to use parking more evenly over the week, not just at times of peak demand (with associated troughs).

 

The Principal Accountant (Services) said the budget assumption was to increase fees and charges by 2%. After that changes were based on individual judgement.

 

The Chair decided that the recommendations in the Officer’s report should be voted on separately:

 

The Committee endorsed recommendation (i) by 3 votes to 2.

 

The Committee endorsed recommendation (ii) by 3 votes to 0.

 

The Committee endorsed recommendation (iii) by 3 votes to 0.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

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

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.