The Policy and Project Advisory Board of Rushmoor Council was scheduled to discuss proposals for free or discounted parking in town centres and the maintenance of unattached land. The board was also set to review its work plan.

Free Parking for Shoppers

The board was scheduled to consider offering free or discounted car parking for shoppers in the town centres of Aldershot and Farnborough. This discussion followed a motion approved by the Council in October 2025 and an initial discussion at the Board's December 2025 meeting. Lee McQuade, Economy and Growth Service Manager, was expected to provide a presentation on the matter. The report pack indicated that evidence suggested parking costs could influence shopper behaviour, potentially discouraging short visits and impulse purchases. However, it also noted that parking charges in Aldershot and Farnborough were comparable to or lower than those in neighbouring towns such as Camberley, Basingstoke, and Guildford. Research highlighted that shoppers valued a range of factors, including the retail and leisure offer, ease of parking, proximity to shops, town safety and attractiveness, and cost, with convenience often being more important than price. A Welsh Government report, 'Assessing the impact of car parking charges on town centre footfall', was cited as concluding that parking cost was only one aspect of a complex interplay influencing visitor behaviour, with weak evidence linking changes in parking charges to changes in footfall. The report suggested that towns performed best when parking policy was combined with a strong retail and leisure mix, events, attractive public spaces, and effective place branding. The report pack also mentioned that any reduction in car parking income would negatively impact the Council's revenue position. The proposed approach included assessing the impact of limited or targeted changes, testing these with businesses and residents, and returning to the Board with options.

Maintenance of Unattached Land

The Board was scheduled to discuss the maintenance of unattached land, following a motion approved by the Council in December 2025. James Duggin, Executive Head of Operations, was due to provide a presentation. The report pack indicated that the Council had received complaints regarding unattached land, which was sometimes described as unsightly and dangerous due to landowners failing to maintain it. The motion proposed writing to the local Member of Parliament and the Chancellor to raise concerns and request support. It also requested the Policy and Project Advisory Board to consider the feasibility and costs of reviewing unattached or unregistered land to clarify ownership and maintenance responsibilities, assess the extent of emergency works needed, and evaluate the costs and legal considerations of the Council assuming permanent maintenance responsibility. The establishment of a formal working partnership with Crown land authorities, Hampshire County Council, and other relevant bodies was also proposed. The report pack noted that potential outcomes for these land parcels included creating areas for biodiversity, developing community assets, or selling them to adjacent residents for a nominal fee. It was also acknowledged that the Council had limited financial capacity for ongoing maintenance but could act as a facilitator between residents and landowners. The report pack also included a document outlining the Council's process for acquiring land, titled Acquiring Crown Land Process and Cost 03.03.2026 Acquiring Crown Land Process and Cost 03.03.2026.

Work Plan

The Board was scheduled to discuss its Work Plan for the upcoming period. The report pack included the PPAB Work Plan PPAB Work Plan, which detailed planned items and their associated delivery plan priorities. This included future discussions on the Free Parking for Shoppers motion and the Maintenance of unattached land motion. Other potential future items for the committee in 2026/27 were also listed, such as an Equalities Review, the Aldershot & Farnborough Growth Partnership, and the Indices of Multiple Deprivation.

The meeting was also scheduled to confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 9th December 2025, for which the Minutes of Previous Meeting.pdf Minutes of Previous Meeting document was available.