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(Joint
report of Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services,
Director of Finance and Transformation and Interim Deputy Chief
Executive)
 
In
accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, decision
D240034CAB was the subject of a call-in and was scrutinised by the
Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 22 April 2024.  Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
considered the grounds for the call-in and had regard to the
responses provided by the Cabinet. 
After in-depth discussion and a formal vote the Overview and
Scrutiny Committee recommended that decision D240034CAB be amended
as set out in Minute Number OS 24/28. 
 
Careful consideration was given to the recommendations of the
Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the views of wider Members and the
signatories of the petitions received in respect of ‘Upper
Castle Field’ and the ‘Extension of charging hours in
Borough Council car parks’. 
 
Due
consideration was also given to the statements made at the meeting
by community representatives, during which significant concern was
expressed over the potential threat to the vibrancy and vitality of
the community, the extension of the Upper Castle Field car park and
the extension of charging hours until 8pm including Sundays and
Bank Holidays and impact on local residents, business and
visitors.
 
After careful consideration and having due regard to the
financial and value for money considerations, Cabinet proposed a
number of amendments to Decision No. D240034CAB which was
superseded by Decision No. D240034(1)CAB.
 
RESOLVED: That
 

(1)    the following
recommendations of the Joint Transportation Board of 4 March 2024,
be approved:
 

(i)    
the proposals for Avebury Avenue, Tonbridge to remove the current
on-street Pay and Display be approved, and that the on-street
Traffic Regulation Order be amended to reflect the
changes;
 

(ii)    the
proposals for the introduction of on-street charges in West Malling
High Street and Swan Street be introduced as drawn, with the
inclusion of no charge for up to 1 hour of parking and that the
on-street Traffic Regulation Order be amended to reflect the
changes;
 

(iii)    the
proposal for the loading bay in West Malling High Street be
introduced as drawn, the future level of enforcement and size of
signs be reviewed, and the on-street Traffic Regulation Order be
altered to reflect the changes; and

(iv)    the changes
to the on-street fees and charges be implemented as advertised and
that the on-street Traffic Regulation Order be altered to reflect
the changes;
 

(2)    the parking
charges to Martin Square car park be introduced as stated in the
report, subject to an amendment to no charge for up to 1 hour of
parking and the reduction in the charge for a season ticket to
£10 per month;

(3)    the parking
charges to Aylesford Bailey Bridge (East) and Bailey Bridge (West)
car parks be introduced as stated in the report, subject to the
reduction in the charge for a season ticket to £120 per annum
and the inclusion of no charge for up to one hour of parking, with
further consideration to be given to the provision of parking
spaces for exclusive use by residents; however, the parking charges
are not to be implemented until the extension of the Bailey Bridge
(East) car park has been completed which is subject to Capital
Plan/fast-track evaluation;

(4)    the Bailey
Bridge (East) car park be extended subject to Capital Plan/fast
track evaluation;
 

(5)    the current
proposal to extend the Upper Castle Field car park not be
agreed;
 

(6)    the existing
nine Gateway parking spaces located in the Tonbridge Castle car
park become available for general use and they are subject to the
same parking conditions and requirements for payment as the rest of
the Castle Grounds car park;
 

(7)    the
off-street parking tariffs be revised as stated in the
report;
 

(8)    with the exception of West Malling High Street,
the Council’s off-street parking charges be extended until
8pm and that the parking charges also be applied on Sundays and
Bank Holidays, excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years
Day; and

(9)   there be no
charge for up to 30 minutes of parking in the following short stay
car parks in Tonbridge: Bradford Street, Castle Grounds, Kinnings
Row, Lamberts Yard, River Lawn and Upper Castle Field.