Lead Member for Transport and Environment
DECISIONS made by the Lead Member for Transport and Environment, Councillor Claire Dowling, on 27 January 2025 at Committee Room, County Hall, Lewes
Councillor Rodohan spoke on item 4 (see minute 46)
Councillors Azad, Geary, Hollidge and Maples spoke on item 5 (see minute 47)
42. Decisions made by the Lead Cabinet Member on 16 December 2024
42.1 The Lead Member approved as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2024.
43. Disclosure of Interests
43.1 There were none.
44. Urgent items
44.1 There were none.
45. Reports
45.1 Reports referred to in the minutes below are contained in the minute book.
46. Petition: Installation of a speed camera in Upperton Road, Eastbourne
46.1 The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.
46.2 Mr Alan Howlett, the Lead Petitioner for the petition calling on the County Council to install a speed camera in Upperton Road, Eastbourne spoke to highlight safety concerns surrounding the pedestrian crossings on Upperton Road and the benefits of a speed camera if installed within the vicinity of the pedestrian crossings.
DECISIONS
46.3 The Lead Member RESOLVED to advise petitioners that:
(1) The area in the vicinity of the zebra crossing on Upperton Road does not meet the Sussex Safer Roads Partnership criteria for a speed camera; and
(2) The existing speed camera further along Upperton Road, near the Goffs is due to be replaced in 2025.
REASONS
46.4 The site has been assessed against the criteria for a speed camera. The crash history and the causation factors of these crashes at the site for the previous 3-year period mean that the threshold for a speed camera to be considered has not been met.
47. Proposal for increases to parking charges across Rother District
47.1 The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport together with written comments from Local Members Councillors Clark and Field.
DEICISONS
47.2 The Lead Member RESOLVED to:
(1) Note the response to the public consultation on increasing on-street parking charges and the proposed changes to permit charges;
(2) Approve the proposals to increase on-street parking and permit charges as detailed at Appendix 2 of the report; and
(3) Agree that parking and permit charges across the county will be reviewed annually.
REASONS
47.3 By offering a reduction in the permit charge based on vehicle carbon dioxide emissions, the Council can help to facilitate the uptake of vehicles with cleaner fuels across Rother, Eastbourne, Hastings and Lewes, which in turn will help to reduce pollution in coastal towns and local town centres. Introducing such an incentive will help to achieve key outcomes within the Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4) focussed on helping to achieve the Council's net-zero ambitions and support the reduction of emissions to improve air quality. The increase as set out in Appendix 2 of the report, will encourage greater use of sustainable modes of transport wherever possible. Using alternative modes of transport will help to reduce vehicle congestion and pollution in the town centres.
47.4 The charges will be reviewed annually to ensure they remain appropriate, in line with the annual review which takes place for all other Civil Parking Enforcement areas.
47.5 Charging at a sufficient level to impact driver behaviour, can bolster the local economy by encouraging a ‘churn’ of visitors and shoppers, rather than spaces being occupied by a single user for a long period of time. The proposals for the on-street parking charges aim to encourage greater use of off-street car parks, reduce the number of vehicles driving on town centre roads searching for parking spaces, and aim to encourage greater use of alternative modes of transport which in turn will reduce harmful emissions and improve air quality. These outcomes will make these towns a more appealing place to work, live and visit and thereby boost the local economy.
47.6 Any future parking surplus, excluding existing commitments, could be used as a further contribution towards the Council’s public transport costs. The investment in these activities is complementary to the objectives of the LTP4 in the provision of sustainable transport which assists in supporting accessibility to key destinations and creating healthy places however, these improvements alone will not enable the change in behaviour that the proposals to parking charges are seeking to achieve.