Minutes from Deputation about Parking Permits for Retailers

Here are the minutes from the deputation.

Extract of Minute of meeting of executive on 27 March 2007

7 Parking Permits for Retailers and Tradespeople

(a) Deputation – Marchmont and Sciennes Business Association (Agenda item number 30(b))

The Executive heard a deputation on behalf of Marchmont and Sciennes Business Association expressing concern regarding the cost of the proposed parking permits for retailers and tradespeople. It was essential for small businesses to be able to park their vehicles outside their premises. The deputation felt the Council should ensure that the scheme was financially fair and supportive of local businesses.

The Deputy Leader thanked the deputation for their presentation and invited them to stay for the debate on the matter.

(Reference – email from Marchmont and Sciennes Business Association 13 March 2007, submitted)

(b) Deputation – Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council (Agenda item number 30(b))

The Executive heard a deputation on behalf of Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council expressing concern about the significant impact the cost of the proposed parking permits for retailers and tradespeople would have on small local businesses. The deputation felt that the Executive should consider either charging businesses at the same level as residential permits or halving the proposed business permit charges.

The Deputy Leader thanked the deputation for their presentation and invited them to stay for the debate on the matter.

(Reference – email from Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council, submitted)

(c) Report by the Director of City Development (Agenda item number 44)

Information was given on proposed arrangements to assist retailers and tradespeople to park within the city centre controlled parking zones. Approval was sought to proceed with the scheme in a modified form and to authorise the making of the Traffic Regulation Orders to allow the scheme to be implemented.

The matter had been discussed at the Environmental Quality Scrutiny Panel on 21 March 2007. The Scrutiny Panel had recommended that the Executive approve the Director’s recommendations and that the Essential User Permits issued to Marchmont and Polwarth pharmacies be extended until the conclusion of the ongoing review of Essential User Permits.

Decision

1) To repel the objections to the proposals to introduce parking permits for retailers and tradespeople.

2) To make Traffic Regulation Orders TRO/06/86 to TRO/06/96 inclusive and TRO/06/135 to TRO/06/139 inclusive as advertised, except that the introduction of Type 1 permits for tradespeople be deferred meantime and the wording of the Orders adjusted accordingly to take effect from 23 April 2007.

3) In terms of Standing Order 58(7), to implement decisions 1) and 2) ahead of any consideration by a scrutiny panel on grounds of urgency in order to implement the Traffic Regulation Orders.

4) To note that the operation of the new arrangements would be monitored and a further report submitted to the Executive early in 2008.

5) To extend the temporary Essential Users permits issued to the Polwarth and Marchmont pharmacies until the outcome of the proposed review of Essential Users permits was known.

6) To instruct the Director of City Development:

a) to research the level of demand from other classes of business within the CPZ extension with a view to considering extending the use of the retail permit to other local small businesses and that a further report be submitted to the Executive once the results of the research were known; and

b) to consult with local businesses on the promotion of local business activity.

(References – Executive 14 November 2006 (item 22); report no E/563/06-07/CD by the Director of City Development, submitted)