1. CONSULTATION ON ENVIRONMENT DIRECTORATE'S BUDGET AND DRAFT SAVINGS
FOPR 2019/20
1.1 901 Parking Tariff
Increase
Officers informed the committee of the proposed additional 30p charge to
the parking tariff structure. Officers explained that the charge would only be
applied from the third hour onwards and that it would not apply to the first
two hours. Officers added it was estimated that this budget proposal would
generate £30,000.
Members questioned why the charging tariff at the car parks in Pontardawe were
different to the rest of the county borough, and were there plans to bring them
all in line with each other. Members added that the first hour of parking was
offered for free in the car parks in Pontardawe. Officers informed the
committee that the arrangement in Pontardawe was a historic position, whereby
the Chamber of Trade had previously put a case forward to the Council in order
to attract customers to the town centre. Officers added that the current
arrangement would be reviewed in future.
Members questioned what data was used when determining the cost modelling for
the car parks. Officers stated that the cost modelling was based on data for
each car park and that usage was a key consideration. Officers reported that a
spreadsheet had been set up which gave the projected figures based on the
uplift entered into the relevant fields. Officers stated that a ten to thirty
percent risk element had been applied to any future forecasts to take into
account potential decreases in usage due to the increase in charges.
Following scrutiny, the committee were supportive of the budget proposal.
1.2 902 Increased income from
Neath Inspired or car park usage
Officers informed the committee that the Council were two years into the
partnership agreement with Neath Inspired, which was aimed to increase footfall
into the Neath town centre. Officers stated that the Council had offered
subsidised parking initiatives to Neath Inspired such as the ’free after three’
parking initiative, and for events such as the Neath Food and Drink Festival,
Real Ale Festival and the Neath Great Guitar Gig, which Neath Inspired
contributed to. Officers explained that the Council aimed to reduce the parking
subsidy on ‘free after three.’
Following scrutiny, the committee were supportive of the budget proposal.
1.3 903 Engineering &
Transport Cost Saving
Officer informed the committee that there were two members of staff who had
indicated that they wished to take early retirement, but were still awaiting
their figures. Members questioned that with staff leaving and not being
replaced, was this placing pressure on remaining team members. Officers stated
that the volume of work was the issue with less resources available to carry
out tasks; however this was an issue encountered across the entire directorate.
Officers added that the capacity to respond swiftly had been affected, and that
some tasks would have to take longer to be dealt with.
Following scrutiny, the committee were supportive of the budget proposal.
1.4 904 - Highways Development
Control
Officers explained that ... view the full minutes text for item 1a