One of our commitees charged with reviewing and ensuring the transparency of council decisions has backed a move to increase on-street parking charges.
The increases were approved in September by our cabinet member for highways Dan Thomas – however some councillors had concerns and ‘called in’ the decision, a process whereby a decision or proposal is re-examined by a scrutiny committee.
At the Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee meeting on Wednesday (October 22) some councillors were concerned that the increases could affect trading conditions and impact residents.
But Councillor Thomas said that the increases were part of our long-standing parking management policy to reduce congestion by encouraging drivers to use car parks over on-street parking bays.
This is done by reviewing on-street parking charges regularly to ensure that on-street parking has a slightly higher tariff than district council-owned carparks.
He added that by law any surplus income from parking charges could only be used for local transport schemes, such as bus services, or for highway maintenance and environmental improvements.
The committee voted to back the original decision but also requested that the cabinet reviewed the frequency of future car parking charge adjustments, as well as the maximum price cap.
Members also supported continued partnership working with district councils regarding the future uplift of their car park charges.
Chair of our Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Helen Brown, said:
“I want to thank all committee members and officers for their thorough and constructive engagement.
“Scrutiny committees do not make decisions, but play a crucial role in holding decision-makers to account as a ‘critical friend’.
“Our role is to examine proposals in detail, ask the difficult questions, and ensure that the best possible outcomes are being pursued for the people of Devon. Where appropriate, we make formal recommendations to Cabinet based on our findings.
“This discussion reflects that responsibility. We listened carefully to the concerns raised, examined the evidence in depth, and sought clarity on the key issues. Anyone who watched the meeting online will have seen a robust and fair process aimed at ensuring transparency, accountability, and informed decision-making.
“This kind of scrutiny is an essential part of the checks and balances that underpin good governance. I’m proud of the work done today on behalf of the residents of Devon.”
Councillor Dan Thomas, our cabinet member for highways, said:
“The scrutiny committee has looked closely at the original decision and has supported that decision.
“I want to thank my colleagues on the scrutiny committee. Their valuable work continues to ensure that the decisions we take are transparent and accountable, which is vital in a healthy local democracy.”
.
