Agenda and minutes

Venue: Conference Room, Parkside, Chart Way, Horsham

Contact: Email: CommitteeServices@horsham.gov.uk  Direct line: 01403 215465

Items
No. Item

SO/23

Minutes pdf icon PDF 89 KB

To approve as correct the minutes of the meeting held on 24th July 2017

(Note: If any Member wishes to propose an amendment to the minutes they should submit this in writing to committeeservices@horsham.gov.uk at least 24 hours before the meeting.  Where applicable, the audio recording of the meeting will be checked to ensure the accuracy of the proposed amendment.)

Minutes:

The minutes of the Committee held 24th July 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

SO/24

Declarations of Members' Interests

To receive any declarations of interest from Members of the Committee

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

SO/25

Announcements

To receive any announcements from the Chairman of the Committee or the Chief Executive

Minutes:

The Chairman announced that this extra meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been called to consider the proposal for the potential replacement of Piries Place Car Park before it was presented to the Cabinet on 21st September 2017.

SO/26

To hear from the Director of Planning, Economic Development and Property on Piries Place Car Park - potential replacement

Minutes:

The Director of Planning, Economic Development and Property and the Head of Property and Facilities presented the details of the Piries Place Car Park Redevelopment Proposal to the Committee.

 

As the redevelopment in Piries Place had commenced, there was considered to be a window of opportunity for the Council to demolish Piries Place car park whilst the development of the area was underway.

 

In the presentation Members noted the timing issues, the demand for parking in Horsham, the sub standard quality of the existing car park in Piries Place and the design options for redevelopment, along with the financial return.

 

If approved, demolition of the existing car park would commence in February 2018 with an anticipated completion date early in 2019.

 

Members noted the findings in the draft report by Peter Brett Associates (PBA) on the current parking options in the town, the high occupancy levels and future demand. The quality of the existing car park in Piries Place was considered to be sub-standard and the possible improvement or remodelling options were detailed  along with the option for complete redevelopment. If the project was approved there would be a mitigation strategy in place whilst redevelopment was underway.

 

Some concerns had been raised at the Cabinet Member advisory group meeting regarding the figures presented in the PBA report, i.e. linked to future capacity figures. The officers would raise these with PBA.

 

The report would be presented to Cabinet on 21st September 2017.

 

The Chairman invited the Committee to comment or ask questions.

 

The Committee agreed that Piries Place car park should be replaced.

 

Questions included those about the timescales; because the redevelopment of Piries Place had already begun, officers saw this as a good opportunity to carry out the redevelopment work of the car park, in order to ensure that was a positive experience for visitors.

 

Overall Members supported the proposal and the timescales.

 

Officers were asked to challenge the expansion figures in the PBA report, to ensure that they were confident that they were correct.

 

Members noted that the contactor advised that part occupancy would be possible near the completion date.

 

The Park and Ride facility should be promoted, especially for businesses in the town centre, during the redevelopment period, as part of the mitigation strategy. Parking throughout the District as whole, would be picked up as part of the car parking strategy which was currently underway and would be available later in the year.

 

Officers were asked to investigate expanding the footprint of the proposed new car park to the south and the east to maximise space. Also give consideration to using the front facing side of the car park for commercial use, however it was advised that this would compromise the number of car park spaces.

 

Other suggestions included utilising the underground space, but Members noted that this option had been eliminated as a result of the risks factors involved.

 

Options such as flexible spaces, a green light system and fast charge points would be considered as  ...  view the full minutes text for item SO/26

SO/27

Urgent Business

Items not on the agenda which the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion should be considered as urgent because of the special circumstances

Minutes:

None.