Agenda item

The report of the Director – Development and Economic Growth is attached.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)               work completed to date to support Bingham Town Council’s ambition for a new long-stay car park for the town be recognised;  

b)               the challenges presented by Network Rail’s current lack of support for the scheme and the delay this presents to delivering a long-stay car park at the preferred site be recognised;

c)               the next steps as outlined in the report (paragraph 4.32), as a short-term solution to improve town centre parking, which could become a long-term solution if successful be supported;

d)               concurrently to c), the Director for Development and Economic Growth be asked to work with Bingham Town Council to progress an outline business case for a long-stay car park at the Butt Field site, subject to the caveats set out in paragraph 4.36 of the report, the outcome to be brought back to Cabinet; and

e)               a Bingham Car Park Strategy Group be set up to comprise membership from Rushcliffe Borough Council, Bingham Town Council and Nottinghamshire County Council as set out in the Terms of Reference in paragraph 4.40 of the report.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Safety, Councillor Inglis presented the report of the Director – Development and Economic Growth, which provided an update on car parking in Bingham.

Councillor Inglis thanked the Director – Development and Economic Growth and the Corporate and Commercial Properties Officer for the excellent report, which provided a very detailed and comprehensive overview of the history and current position of car parking in Bingham.

Councillor Inglis advised that parking provision was a statutory responsibility of the Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) and stated that Bingham Town Council (BTC) had full ownership of their long-term car park, with Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) owning and operating three public, town centre car parks, with 165 spaces, operated by NCC.  Cabinet was advised that BTC had approached RBC in July 2022 requesting some project support to help its long-term ambition, arising from its 2015 Parking Strategy and the 2018 Bingham Masterplan to a perceived need for addition car parking for Bingham on a potential site owned by it.  RBC had agreed to help with £25k funding and officer support, and the partnership work had been ongoing since then.

Councillor Inglis stated that significant challenges with key stakeholders needed to be overcome, especially Network Rail, which would be a key factor to gaining its support for a new long-stay car park and for a Business Plan to support the viability of such a project when, surprisingly, and also appreciating the car parking issues, the data suggested in Paragraph 4.4 of the report that Bingham already had twice as many parking spaces per resident than West Bridgford and more than Cotgrave, Radcliffe and Keyworth.

The recommendation to establish a Strategy Group was welcomed by Councillor Inglis as a way forward in consolidating NCC, RBC and BTC working together to find both short and longer term solutions, and to maximise the parking provision for everyone across the whole town. 

Councillor Inglis concluded by referring to the work already undertaken by BTC and in particular the Town Clerk, Jo Riddle, and all that she had done so far.  Cabinet was reminded that there were no easy solutions or answers, with many hurdles to overcome, and it was hoped that by accepting this report the project would be taken further.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Brennan reiterated previous comments, thanked officers and reminded Cabinet that at a previous meeting she had referred to the complexity of this issue, and the need for positive engagement with a number of partners.  Councillor Brennan stated that the report clearly showed that a great deal of work had already taken place, and this was now an era of positive cooperation with all stakeholders, which was welcomed.  It was acknowledged that problems remained with some key partners, and it was a complex issue, with no easy solutions; however, the report set out some very positive ways forward, with clear action points to agree.

Councillor Clarke referred to the many hurdles to be overcome and stated that he was very confident with the new membership of both Borough and Town councillors that there now appeared to be a more positive, confident aim to drive this issue forward, looking at all aspects of car parking, including the possibility of other sites.  If it was not possible to use this site, it was appropriate to look for other sites and that should form part of the work of the new Group, to ensure flexibility and find the best solutions for Bingham.  

Councillor J Wheeler endorsed this comprehensive report, which corrected some local miss-information, and he welcomed the suggested approach going forward and referred to the positive collaboration between councillors, including local Ward Councillors who were in attendance this evening.  Reference was made to the other stakeholders involved and how important it was to ensure that correct processes and procedures were followed to allow a positive result for Bingham.

Councillor Clarke reminded Cabinet that the County Council would become involved, and it was important to recognise that all parties were now working together with the same aims. 

It was RESOLVED that:

a)               work completed to date to support Bingham Town Council’s ambition for a new long-stay car park for the town be recognised;  

b)               the challenges presented by Network Rail’s current lack of support for the scheme and the delay this presents to delivering a long-stay car park at the preferred site be recognised;

c)               the next steps as outlined in the report (paragraph 4.32), as a short-term solution to improve town centre parking, which could become a long-term solution if successful be supported;

d)               concurrently to c), the Director – Development and Economic Growth be asked to work with Bingham Town Council to progress an outline business case for a long-stay car park at the Butt Field site, subject to the caveats set out in paragraph 4.36 of the report, the outcome to be brought back to Cabinet; and

e)               a Bingham Car Park Strategy Group be set up to comprise membership from Rushcliffe Borough Council, Bingham Town Council and Nottinghamshire County Council as set out in the Terms of Reference in paragraph 4.40 of the report.