Issue - meetings

ES 19059

The report made recommendations for the modernisation of the Civic Centre Car Park to enhance the customer experience and to encourage people to visit Bromley Town Centre.

Three options had been considered:

·  Option 1: A Pay on Foot system which was the same as the current system

·  Option 2: A Pay and Display system

·  Option 3: ANPR (automatic number plate recognition) where the exit barrier would rise as the vehicle approached, as long as payment had been made

The report had recommended Option 3.

It was noted that the Portfolio Holder for Resources, as well as the Portfolio Holder for Environment supported the proposal as did the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Environment PDS Committee.

At the meeting, the project was also supported by Members. However the way that the project was proposed to be part funded was not agreed by Members. This was because it had been proposed that £71.5k funding be allocated from the earmarked reserve for Member Initiatives (Environment Projects). Members expressed the view that the earmarked reserve for Member Initiatives was being used to acquire capital equipment, and felt that this was not the purpose of the funding.

The Director of Environment and Public Protection felt that it was important that the recommendations (as outlined in the report) should be agreed so that the project could proceed without delay.

The Chairman suggested that the matter of funding be delegated to the Director of Environment and Public Protection to discuss further with the Portfolio Holder. 

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to agree that:

1) Option 3 be implemented—the car park should be modernised to an ANPR parking solution and to grant officers permission to go to the market to procure a new system. Delegated authority would be given to the Director of Environment and Public Protection to make the final selection.

2) The one-off funding cost of £181.5k is partially funded from the £110k release of provision that was no longer required.  The remaining funding of £71.5k to make up the £181.5k is NOT funded from the earmarked reserve for Member Initiatives. The Director of Environment and Public Protection should discuss this further with the Environment Portfolio Holder to locate an alternative source of funding.

3) The funding of the ongoing equipment maintenance costs of £11.6k (£80.9k over 7 years) is NOT allocated from the earmarked reserve for Member Initiatives. The Director of Environment and Public Protection should discuss this further with the Environment Portfolio Holder to locate an alternative source of funding.