To consider approval of an addition to the Council’s Capital Programme to re-surface and line the Broadway Car Park in Sutton on Sea as an Invest to Save bid.

1)           That Council be recommended to add a £500,000 allocation to the Capital Programme to commission the installation of new hard surfacing and vehicle bay lining within the Broadway Car Park in Sutton-on-Sea.

2)           That Officers be requested to also look at including the infrastructure work required to facilitate the installation of solar power as part of the scheme, if this can be delivered within budget.

A report was presented that set out a request to allocate a budget of £500,000 within the Capital Programme to commission hard surfacing works and new lined bays within the Broadway Car Park at Sutton-on-Sea.  The proposed investment would increase off street car parking capacity linked to the increased demand anticipated from the scheduled £6.2m Towns Fund/Council capital investment to redevelop the adjacent Colonnade and Pleasure Gardens, which was due for completion by Easter 2024.  This would complement the overall setting of the adjacent uplift in the local built environment, ensure a greater sense of welcome, arrival and civic pride within Sutton-on-Sea and generate an additional revenue return of £60,000 per annum.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance highlighted this was an invest to save bid, which he hoped colleagues would support.  During discussion the Portfolio Holder for Coastal Economy referred to paragraphs 1.5 and 2.6 of the report presented that made mention to street charging points and solar power as a wider strategy in promoting the area and reducing the carbon footprint of the Council.  Councillor Kirk, wished with the agreement of the Portfolio Holder for Finance, to propose a further recommendation to the report as detailed below:

In view of increasing energy prices and our commitment to reducing carbon across the district that officers are requested to also look at including the infrastructure works required to facilitate the introduction of solar power as part of the scheme, if this can be delivered within budget.

The Portfolio Holder for Operational Services advised that in purchasing the last round of car parking machines, machines with solar power panels above had been reviewed, but at the time were not within budget. 

Following which it was

RESOLVED

1)           That Council be recommended to add a £500,000 allocation to the Capital Programme to commission the installation of new hard surfacing and vehicle bay lining within the Broadway Car Park in Sutton-on-Sea;

2)           That Officers be requested to also look at including the infrastructure work required to facilitate the installation of solar power as part of the scheme, if this can be delivered within budget.

Reasons:

The proposed investment will accommodate an anticipated increase in demand for off-street parking in Sutton-on-Sea linked to the Towns Fund Investment Plan project to redevelop the adjacent Colonnade and Pleasure Gardens area, as well as providing better serviced infrastructure to support local high street businesses.

Other options:

The Council could decide to do nothing or delay the proposed investment into future years. However, the benefits of progressing the scheme would then not be realised.