Agenda item

To receive the recommendations from Committees and, if approved, adopt the recommendations contained therein:

(a)   Audit Committee held on 16 December:  Capital Strategy 2021/22 (report of the Director of Corporate Resources is online at: Agenda item 10 )

(b)   Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 25 January: Report of the Off Street Parking Task & Finish Group (report of Chairman of the Task & Finish Group is online at: O&S Agenda item 5 )

Capital Strategy 2021/22

Councillor Stuart Ritchie, Chairman of Audit Committee, introduced the recommendation regarding the Capital Strategy, which had been approved by Audit Committee as an appropriate overarching strategy for the Council.  The recommendation, as set out in the report, required Council to approve the Treasury Management Strategy and Investment Strategy for 2021/22, which formed part of the overarching Capital Strategy.  Councillor John Blackall seconded the motion. 

RESOLVED

i)       That the Treasury Management Strategy for 2021/22 and the associated limits and specific indicators included in section 4 and appendix B of the Capital Strategy 2021/22 incorporating Investment and Treasury Management Strategy report be approved.

ii)      That the Investment Strategy for 2021/22 and the associated limits and specific indicators included in section 5 and appendix C of the Capital Strategy 2021/22 incorporating Investment and Treasury Management Strategy report be approved

REASON

The Council is required to have regard to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s Treasury Management in the Public Services: Code of Practice 2017 Edition (the CIPFA Code) and Prudential Code which requires the Council to approve a Capital strategy, Investment strategy and Treasury Management Strategy before the start of each financial year.

The Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) issued revised guidance on local authority investments in 2017 that the Council is required to have regard to.

Report of the Off Street Parking Task & Finish Group

Councillor Tony Bevis, Chairman of Overview & Scrutiny Committee, introduced the report, which recommended that the Council develop its own Parking Standards matrix to inform the allocation of parking provision for new development.  As resolved at by Council on 9 December, the report had been revised and debated further by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee. Councillor Bevis stated that the proposal would enable the Council to put together a protocol based on the recommendations that would then return to Council for final endorsement.  The proposal was seconded by Councillor Brian Donnelly, Chairman of the Task & Finish Group.

The Cabinet Member for Planning & Development advised that once the new Local Plan was in place, a new Parking Standards matrix could be adopted through a Supplementary Planning Document.

RESOLVED

i)        Strategic Planning to develop a HDC Parking Standards SPD in consultation with the O&S Off Street Parking Task & Finish Group. The start date of this project to be decided by Strategic Planning.

ii)       A consultant should be engaged for, say, six months to assist Strategic Planning in i) above to develop the parking standards for Horsham District Council similar to the one which had been developed by Arun District Council but fine-tuned to meet Horsham’s particular requirements.

iii)      A Budget be Approved for the employment of a consultant.

iv)      That the HDC Parking Protocol for new residential builds throughout HDC, subject to evidence provided, be:

1 bed - 2 parking spaces

2 bed - 2 parking spaces

3 bed - 3 parking spaces

4 bed - 3 parking spaces

5 bed - 4 parking spaces

v)      A new parking protocol be developed for business sites, retirement homes, care homes and restaurants & takeaways:

v) 1    Business Sites – floorspace plus number of staff & visitor/delivery provision

v) 2    Retirement Homes – one parking space per unit plus space for staff, visitors & deliveries

v) 3    Care Homes – one space per member of staff plus space for visitors & deliveries

v) 4    Restaurants & Takeaways – planning permission only granted if adequate public parking available in the vicinity.

vi)      Ducting for electrical car charging be placed in all off street parking spaces of new builds.

vii)     Review the dimensions of garages and car ports. Are WSCC’s appropriate?

viii)    In all new builds put in a Condition prohibiting the conversion of garages or carports into rooms unless suitable garages or car ports are built in replacement on the same site.

ix)      Two cycle racks to be provided for each new unit.

x)      Developers must be made aware that they are responsible for providing appropriate off street car parking and not relying on street parking for their new builds.

REASON

To develop a Parking Standards matrix for Horsham District Council to ensure the provision of adequate off street parking for new development.