To receive an update on the delivery of the East Reading Resident Permit Parking Scheme.

The Executive Director for Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report providing an update on the delivery of the East Reading RPP scheme.  Appended to the report at Appendix 1 was a plan showing the parking restrictions and area of private land on Oaklands. 

The report explained that Area 1 of a new East Reading RPP scheme had been introduced from September 2019. The scheme had introduced restrictions in the area that was broadly bounded by the Redlands Ward boundary to the West, Whiteknights Road and Wokingham Road. Area 2 of the scheme was introduced in August 2020 and was broadly bounded by the Borough boundary, Palmer Park Avenue and Wokingham Road. Both areas joined the 14R permit parking zone. The report set out the current number of Permits by type issued in 14R as at 18 February 2021.

The report further explained that at the July 2020 meeting of the Sub-Committee (Minute 3(a) refers), it was reported that the Council had received a petition from Oaklands, with residents requesting for their properties to be included for eligibility to the full entitlement of permits. The report explained that it was typical that properties containing flats/multiple addresses, particularly those with off-street parking availability, would not be eligible for the full entitlement of parking permits (up to 2 permits per address and an initial visitor permit allocation, upon application) in the TRO of a new permit parking scheme in Reading. This approach had been taken to reduce the risks of oversaturating parking levels in a new permit parking scheme. Oaklands was one of a number of developments within the scheme area to which this applied.  Following officer recommendations in the scheme development process, the East Reading Study Steering Group agreed to the property exclusions.

Officers reported that within this scheme area (Area 1), there were 278 addresses that were currently not included in the permit entitlement. Of this number there was a concentration of addresses in the vicinity of Oaklands.

The report stated that Officers remain of the view that it would not be reasonable to consider Oaklands in isolation of other properties that were in the same position. It explained that to include all properties in the scheme would risk opening the scheme up to a flood of permit applications and a significant increase in the on-street parking that would have specific demand concentrations in Hamilton Road and Bulmershe Road.

Officers had been asked to confirm the extent of adopted Highway land on Oaklands and whether there was scope to increase the level of on-street parking.  Appendix 1 showed the scheme drawing that had been used for the public consultation and now formed part of the resultant TRO. It showed that the black-shaded area to the south was not adopted Highway, and although used as a parking area, was not managed nor enforced by the Council. 

Paragraph 4. 11 of the report set out the methodology for residents who already received permits. It explained that they would be required to renew their discretionary permits on an annual basis, and officers would be able to renew them automatically subject to certain qualifications. Where new applications had been granted at appeal and issued personal to the applicant, these would also be renewed automatically on application. 

At the invitation of the Chair, Councillor White, Ward Councillor for Park Ward, addressed the Sub-Committee in relation to a proposal to include some of the addresses of properties in the vicinity of Oaklands in the East Reading Resident Permit Parking Scheme. The Sub-Committee discussed the implications of Councillor White’s proposal and although sympathetic to the parking situation experienced by residents in Oaklands, the Sub-Committee considered that it would not be feasible to extend the scheme to include properties in Oaklands for the reasons set out in the report.

Resolved –

(1)      That the report be noted;

(2)      That the current address eligibility for the full allocation of resident parking permits remains unchanged;

(3)      That the methodology for renewing discretionary parking permits as set out in paragraph 4.11 of the report be adopted.