URL: https://committeeadmin.lancaster.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=1572

Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose:

Content: (Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Wilkinson)   Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer Sustainable Growth to consider the next steps in agreeing and approving elements which support the Lancaster City Centre Car Parking Strategy and Action Plan Project Programme. Approval was sought for the resources required to take forward initial critical proposals, defined as part of the draft Strategy’s Action Plan, through design development and planning phases to ensure proposals in future iterations of the Strategy were achievable and meet the council’s wider objectives.   The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:     Option 1: Do not approve the parking portfolio design and development resources as outlined in the report. Option 2: Approve the parking portfolio design and development resources as outlined in the report. Advantages Reduces immediate budgetary pressure and revenue risk exposure during a period of wider funding constraints.   Avoids the council taking on potential risks associated with the delivery of feasibility and potential capital programme of parking improvements. Provides a clear route to delivering an improved parking portfolio aligned with the council’s broader goals on economic vitality, climate action, and housing.   Facilitates the development of business cases for capital interventions, and ANPR system roll out, helping to future-proof the parking network.   Responds to consultation feedback and business/community concerns by demonstrating active delivery, not just policy intent.   Ensures considered investment in better infrastructure to make parking safer, more inclusive, and user-friendly.   Enables phased rationalisation of outdated surface sites without compromising network capacity, improving land use and user experience.   Helps maintain budget contributions by improving space use efficiency, turnover, and digital payment systems.   Enables consideration of release of further Canal Quarter sites for affordable housing objectives as the proposals ensure target strategic car parking numbers can be maintained.   Disadvantages Fails to capitalise on consultation, policy design, and alignment with regional transport and regeneration goals.   Council does not further commit to evidence-based infrastructure planning, which may erode trust in decisions.   Creates uncertainty limiting strategic planning and reducing the council’s ability to coordinate land use.   Without reinvestment or planning, car parking capacity may degrade incrementally, undermining city centre vitality and visitor perception.   Difficult to consider release of further Canal Quarter sites for affordable housing as the target strategic parking numbers could not be maintained without the proposed interventions. Commits around £200,000 in initial revenue/feasibility funding and potentially a future of around £1M capital, with longer[1]term liabilities subject to further business case consideration.   Involves the city council in multiple sites, external contractors, and planning dependencies increase delivery risk and demands strong programme management capacity. Risks/ Mitigation Failure to act may conflict with the council’s own stated economic and climate priorities. Risk could be partially mitigated by future ad hoc interventions or alternative “road map”   Impact on other council objectives and uncertainty. Rising construction or consultancy costs could exceed estimates. However, the council’s stage-gate approval systems and value engineering at feasibility stage will assist in mitigation.   Site constraints may cause delays although early engagement with planning and legal teams and phased design should alleviate concerns.   Investments will be aligned with LCWIP and BSIP progress and update strategy in future reviews.   Following Members’ consideration and confirmation that the proposals meet the council’s objectives and its wider policy aspirations, Option 2 is preferred. Approve the parking portfolio design and development resources as outlined in the report.  The work will inform phased, and pragmatic investment in Lancaster’s future parking infrastructure as a significant element of local transport and regeneration infrastructure planning.   Councillor Wilkinson proposed, seconded by Councillor Bottoms:-   “That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”   Councillors then voted:-   Resolved unanimously:   (1)             That the proposals as outlined in Section 2.0 of the report are supported and the submission of reserve bids requested from officers with reference to: · Feasibility & design development and project management costs of potential car parking capital projects to £118K · Progress investment proposals into digital technology (ANPR) with allocation of £232K   (2)             That Officers to continue developing proposals for · Proposals to be considered for inclusion into the Capital Programme at the mid-year review stage in Autumn 2025, subject to the correct governance and required financing being in place. · Finalising implementation phasing and project-level business cases. · Submission of planning applications and/or procurement activity as appropriate .   (3)             That Individual project decisions will return to the relevant authority (Cabinet/Portfolio Holder) where further staged approvals or funding decisions are required.   (4)             That a revised final draft Lancaster City Centre Parking Strategy is presented to a future Cabinet meeting.   Officer responsible for effecting the decision:   Chief Officer Sustainable Growth   Reasons for making the decision:   The decision is consistent with the Council Plan:   A Sustainable District – car parking provision and car use is a consideration in meeting the challenges of the council’s declared Climate Emergency and a range of other council objectives.   An Inclusive and Prosperous Local Economy – building a sustainable and just local economy that benefits people and organisations needs to consider car parking provision as a key feature of accessibility for certain groups and communities.   Healthy and Happy Communities – tackling car parking provision and some of the negative consequences inherent in the current portfolio will contribute to healthy and happy community objectives   A Co-Operative, Kind and Responsible Council – further consultation and ongoing discussion with stakeholders will achieve the best outcomes for in tandem with running efficient quality public services, of which car parking provision is a key service provision.   Concerns from the business and cultural sectors community as well as the public about the long-term provision of public parking, and general parking are understood. The city council is addressing the matter at a strategic city-wide level, with appreciation of the statutory strategic policy imperatives the city council is working within.   The council recognises that having an appropriate level of car parking in the city is important to support the economy and provide a range and choice of transport options and to ensure accessibility for the less mobile and populations underserved by public transport. The work supported through this report will provide context and framing for the council’s ambitions to provide parking provision that is fit for purpose and fit for the future.  

Date of Decision: June 3, 2025