Agenda item

Eden North: Car Parking - Agreement in Principle

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Dowding)

 

Report of Chief Executive

Minutes:

Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Dowding)

 

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Executive  with regard to Car Parking at Eden North.  To support progression of the Eden North planning application and business / funding case, the council needed to confirm it supported a jointly agreed strategic approach to the handling of car-borne visitors to the proposed attraction. The report sought approval to parameters which would assist the project in satisfying the demands of the Local Planning Authority and Government funding approval processes, with specific regard to the role of council car parking assets in Eden North's sustainable travel and transport proposals.

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

 

Option 1: The terms of the Agreement in Principle outlining the proposed role in Eden North’s Transport / Parking Strategy of city council car parking assets in Morecambe is endorsed.

Advantages: Provides a degree of formal support towards a jointly agreed strategic approach to the handling of car-borne visitors to the proposed Eden North attraction.

 

Approval of the parameters will assist the project in satisfying the demands of the Local Planning Authority and Government funding approval processes, with specific regard to the role of council car parking assets in Eden North's sustainable travel and transport proposals.

Disadvantages: No disadvantages identified.

Risks: The practical operational mechanisms will be a complex area and the final likely impact on the council’s net income in comparison with the current public use profile of Morecambe’s public car parking spaces will need to be assessed. However, officers are confident that the dynamic booking arrangements can be progressed and formally agreed, and day-to-day parking demand for Morecambe Town Centre can be managed alongside Eden North visitor demands.

Option 2: The terms of the Agreement in Principle outlining the proposed role in Eden North’s Transport / Parking Strategy of city council car parking assets in Morecambe are not agreed.

Advantages: No advantages identified.

Disadvantages: This will not support nor satisfy the demands of the Local Planning Authority and Government business case approval processes.

Risks: This must be framed in terms of the downside risk of Eden North failing to progress efficiently through the statutory planning process and potentially failing to secure planning approval under the current application process.

 

The officer preferred option is Option 1.

 

Councillor Dowding proposed, seconded by Councillor Hamilton-Cox:-

 

 

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

 

Councillors then voted:-

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)       That the terms of the Agreement in Principle outlining the proposed role in Eden North’s Transport / Parking Strategy of city council car parking assets in Morecambe be endorsed.

 

 (2)      That a further report on the detailed operational and financial mechanisms of the proposed operations is considered by Cabinet prior to formal contractual agreement.

 

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Chief Executive

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

Eden Project North provides an opportunity to deliver considerable social and economic benefits for Morecambe and the wider area, contributing to the following priorities:

· A Sustainable District

· An Inclusive and Prosperous Economy

· Healthy and Happy Communities

 

The Agreement in Principle will provide sufficient safeguards for the council in terms of the matters outlined, and sufficient certainty for Eden North in progressing their planning application and negotiations with central Government regarding business case matters. Further Cabinet decisions may be required to finalise a contract dependent on the financial and community implications of the detailed proposed operations.

Supporting documents: