To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2011.

With regard to Agenda item 12/10 Public Consultation page 3, Disabled Parking the Chairman asked that it be noted that disabled parking at the War Memorial was also mentioned along with those at Pit Lane.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2011 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence had been received from Mrs P Quadling.

To note whether the Chairman proposes to accept any item as urgent business.

Teresa Smith, Committee Officer had received on the morning of the meeting a proposal from Mr Ian Clews of Swaffham, which she tabled. 

The proposal was entitled, Reduce The North Bound Traffic On The A1065 Into The Town Centre By Providing An Alternative Route To The Theatre Street Car Park Via Haspalls Road.

Neither the Committee Officer or Members had had no time to read the document prior to the meeting, but the Committee Officer asked for Members to discuss the document so their comments could be included in the report to the Overview and Scrutiny Commission being held on 24 March 2011.

Members felt the Chairman was best placed to comment given her local knowledge of Swaffham, however all Members went through the proposals.  They all agreed that the pavements and roads were narrow, and signage was very important.

Members agreed that at the Public Consultation meeting it was apparent that most comments were about signage, and Members agreed with the Committee Officer that recommendations needed to be achievable and able to be put in place quickly where possible.

AGREED that :-

(a)       The Committee Officer would respond to Mr Ian Clews

(b)       The Committee Officer would go through the proposals submitted by Mr Ian Clews and include them in the Draft Report to the Chairman of the Parking Task and Finish Group for her comments, and then to the remaining Members, prior to the report going to the Overview and Scrutiny Commission on 24 March 2011

Members are asked at this stage to declare any interests that they may have in the following items on the Agenda. 

The Members’ Code of Conduct requires that declarations include the nature of the interest, and whether it is a personal or prejudicial interest.

There were none.

To discuss the comments received following the public consultation held on Tuesday 25 January, and to make recommendations for inclusion in the report for the Overview & Scrutiny Commission on 24 March 2011.

The Committee Officer advised that the main points that resulted from the Public Consultation held on 25 January were the mixed management of car parks across Norfolk County Council, Police and Breckland with regard to enforcement and parking wardens, along with disabled spaces, taxi ranks and signage.

The Chairman stated that taxi ranks would need to be improved with the agreement of Norfolk County Council, but that the general consensus was that there was not a huge parking problem in Swaffham, but she suggested that Disabled Parking was looked at. 

She believed that the Town Clerks of the 5 towns were investigating whether a Traffic Warden could be provided between all the towns.  A Member felt that with a random Traffic Warden available this would keep members of the public alert and aware that they could be issued with a parking ticket if appropriate.  The Chairman felt that if a Traffic Warden was available more regularly there could be a possibility of 30 minute spaces available, but it was not a practical option at this time.

It was RECOMMENDED that the Overview and Scrutiny Commission look into the possibility of shared Traffic Wardens.<1>

It was AGREED that

(a)       The Committee Officer send a Draft Report to the Chairman of the Parking Task and Finish Group for her comments, and then to the remaining Members before the end of February for their comments, prior to the report going to the Overview and Scrutiny Commission on 24 March 2011

The Group would review parking in Dereham next and the review would follow

 the same format as that followed with the other towns.

To agree a date and time for the next meeting if required.

It was agreed that no further meetings would be held by the Parking Task and Finish Group on Swaffham.