Agenda and minutes

Consider note of meeting held on 9 March 2022.  (Copy attached.)

There had been circulated copies of the Note of the Meeting held on 9 March 2022.

DECISION

AGREED the note.

Update on surveys and consultation from Philippa Gilhooley.

2.1       There followed an update from the Policy/Road User Management Team Leader Philippa Gilhooly.  With reference to Appendix 2 of the Note of the meeting held   on 2 February 2022, the Peebles Parking Study (Car Park face to face questions) had been planned in early Spring 2022, however it was reported that action from the survey had been unavoidably delayed due to competing critical road safety priorities as well as a family bereavement. 

2.2       Scottish Borders Council had obtained three quotes to procure a car parking survey in Peebles; quotes varied from £9,540 to £14,800. There followed a short discussion and members agreed on a three day survey and identified Saturday, Monday and Friday as the preferred days. The preferred Company was Streetwise and had quoted £9,540.  It was noted that the Peebles Parking Fund currently had a balance of £70,000 and that the survey costs incurred were to be met from this fund.  The agreement to fund the survey would have to be made by the three Tweeddale West Councillors. The timing of the survey was agreed as March/April 2023 to allow for the erection of signage associated with the full Council’s previously agreed amendments to off street parking charges review.  The previously agreed online survey was to be launched at the same time as the face-to-face surveys and would be open to the public over a number of weeks.  It was agreed that Philippa Gilhooly would bring a summary of the responses for discussion at a future meeting.

2.3       Jan Little, Parking Supervisor, provided a brief overview of the proposed changes to the Peebles off-street parking fees, which would see universal charges and standardised time bands across all car parks excluding Eastgate; improved signage and the introduction of the Ringo parking app.  It was confirmed that the £26 charge for the annual parking permit was also under review. 

            DECISION

            NOTED the update.

            (a)        AGREED to the appointment of Streetwise to conduct the three day parking survey;

            (b)       AGREED to consider a proposal from the Traffic Policy and Road User Management Team Leader on the procurement, timing and                             funding source of the Peebles car parks survey.

Update on possible changes to Eastgate Car Park from Dan Cathcart and Gordon Grant.

            Dan Cathcart provided a short presentation which updated the members on initial proposals for a review of bus parking in Eastgate Car Park. It was stressed that this proposal was in its very early stages.  The review proposed the creation of a four stance bus park with passenger shelter on the site of the current bus park on Edinburgh Road.  The potential cost of funding a project of this scale had increased from £360,000 two years ago, to £415,000. There followed a discussion on the potential impact on public transport volumes at the Eastgate/Post Office bus stop.  The public had the opportunity to complete an online consultation exercise on the Bus Network Review 2022 via Citizen Space until 9 January 2023. 

DECISION

NOTED the update.

Discussion concerning the use of Common Good Car Parks.

With reference to a request from Community Councillor Maudsley, there followed a discussion on proposals to introduce charges at all Common Good owned car parks. Greenside was the only one of the three carparks with daily charges which to date had been paid into the Peebles Parking Fund rather than the Peebles Common Good Fund.  This had been raised at the Peebles Common Good Sub-Committee on 23 November 2022 for further investigation. Community Council requested that consideration was given to charging users of Kingsmeadows and Neidpath car parks and that officers prepare costings for the installation and maintenance pay and display meters as well as fees associated with parking attendants.

            DECISION

            AGREED that the Parking Supervisor prepare costings for the       installation and maintenance of pay and display meters as well as fees    associated with parking attendants at Kingsmeadows and Neidpath car      parks for presentation to the next meeting.

There followed a short discussion on target dates for future work.  It was agreed that any further decisions about the introduction of parking charges be delayed until the current Parking Charges Review was completed in early 2023.  The Chair agreed to provide a list of possible action points for the next meeting for which future dates might be decided.  Thereafter any strategy was to be taken to the      Tweeddale Area Partnership for consultation and potential funding.

            DECISION

            AGREED to:-

            (a)        hold any further decisions about the introduction of parking charges until the current Parking Charges Review was completed in early 2023.

            (b)       the Chair was to provide a list of possible action points for the next    meeting for which future dates might be decided.

A number of potential dates in February, April/May and June 2023 were to be identified and circulated in the days following the meeting.

The meeting concluded at 3:10pm