A report advising the Sub-Committee on the discretionary permit decision making process and asks to delegate authority to Council Officers to issue third discretionary permit applications.

The Executive Director for Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report advising the Sub-Committee on the discretionary permit decision making process and asking for authority to be delegated to officers to issue third discretionary permit applications.  A copy of the guidance on how officers dealt with the discretionary permit applications was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

The report explained that there were 19 Residents Parking zones across the Borough that provided more space on-street throughout the larger zones.  The report included a table that detailed the permits that had been issued in 2019/2020 and the changes from 1 October 2019.

The current rules of the permit scheme stated that “Each household would be eligible for two permits within a permit zone.  The first permit would have a charge of £40 and second permits would have charge of £150.”  With regard to third permit applications the rules stated that “Any household which was granted, on a discretionary basis, a third Residents Permit would have a charge of £300.”  The Council had issued 38 third discretionary permits for households in the 2019/20 Municipal Year.  Officers had no discretion to authorise a third permit to households unless it was part of a new permit scheme.  All applications had been refused and referred to the Sub-Committee for a decision.  The report proposed that authority to issued third discretionary permits should be delegated to officers in the following circumstances;

·         Correct proof of residency and vehicle ownership were provided;

·         Permit Zone Availability was under 95%;

·         Eligible Household Status.

Resolved –

(1)         That the guide that officers will use when deciding discretionary permit applications be noted;

(2)     That officers be granted delegated authority to issue third discretionary permit applications, as set out in paragraph 4.3.3 of the report.