The Portfolio Holder for Economic and Community Development presented a report which detailed a proposal to provide additional parking capacity in Sevenoaks Town by ‘decking’ the existing Council owned Buckhurst 2 and/or the Suffolk Way car parks.  The Chief Officer Environmental and Operational Services advised that the report also detailed a review of current parking provision and the results and conclusions from a parking survey undertaken by an independent company in November 2013; provided details of estimated construction costs for various options for these two car parks and the existing planning policies and scope for both sites; provided a breakdown of estimated costs per option and the likely estimate of additional income generated and options for funding the project; and identified opportunities for increasing parking in the areas near the railway station by ‘decking’ the existing Council owned Bradbourne car park.  The Chief Officer Environmental and Operational Services confirmed the proposal was to provide much needed additional car parking capacity to assist with the economy of Sevenoaks. Members considered the reference and recommendations received from the Economic & Community Development Advisory Committee and noted the additional request for a working group to be set up.  The Portfolio Holder for Economic and Community Development added that it had been thoroughly explored by the Advisory Committee and that he had allowed a member of the public to address the committee. 

The Chairman reported that he, like other Members, had also been emailed by that member of public, along with the Knole Paddock  Residents Association who had made some suggestions should the planning applications go ahead.  This report represented the second part of the Council’s possible solutions to parking issues, the first being the Variable Message Signs (VMS) that were being installed.  Spaces needed to be delivered in a timely manner to help the growing economy.  In response to a question he advised that more spaces should mean less vehicle movements as a large number of those were people looking for spaces.  This report was about answering demand that already existed.  Kent Highways would be consulted as part of the planning process.  He further advised that options for long stay, such as allocations for season ticket holders would be explored as part of the process.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved:   That

                 a)               a planning application be submitted to provide an additional 300 car park spaces on the existing Buckhurst 2 car park by providing a two storey elevated car deck; and

                 b)               the Economic & Community Development Advisory Committee be requested to set up a Working Group to look at car parking technology such as smart ticketing.

                  c)               it be recommended to full Council that:

                               i)            subject to planning consent, to undertake a Procurement exercise for the project and subject to the successful tender being within the estimated costs as outlined in this report, to award a contract to design and build the elevated car park decks on the existing Buckhurst 2 car park.

                             ii)            a budget of £3.5-£4.0 million be approved to be financed by borrowing from the Public Works Loan Board.

                           iii)            that delegated authority be granted to the Portfolio Holders for Finance and Resources and Economic and Community Development to, after consideration of the tender evaluation, accept the most economically advantageous tender, to award the contract and authorise expenditure and approvals within the estimated costs outlined in this report and the borrowing approval.

                            iv)            that a planning application be submitted for the decking of the existing Bradbourne car park to increase parking capacity in the area adjacent to the railway station.

                              v)            a planning application be submitted to provide additional parking spaces in the existing Suffolk Way car park by providing either a one or two storey elevated car deck, to allow for longer term provision of additional short stay parking capacity.