Agenda and draft minutes

The Former Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation from May 2009 to July, 2010. - Wednesday 4 November 2009 9.30 a.m.

Venue: Town Hall, Moorgate Street, ROTHERHAM.

Items
No. Item

79.

ROTHERHAM ECONOMIC REGENERATION FUND (RERF) support for Free Parking on Saturdays from 21st November to Christmas 2009 pdf icon PDF 40 KB

Simeon Leach, Economic Strategy Manager, to report.

-           to seek approval for RERF funding to be allocated for the provision of free car parking on Saturdays up to Christmas 2009.

Minutes:

Further to Minute No. 22 of the joint meeting of the Cabinet Members for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation and Streetpride, consideration was given to a report which sought approval for £20,000 of RERF funding to cover the costs of the waiving of parking charges in the town centre on Saturdays, commencing on Saturday, 21st November, 2009 up to and including Saturday, 19th December, 2009 and marketing of the initiative to the public.

 

It was reported that this request had arisen due to the recent economic downturn which had resulted in approaches to the Council from town centre businesses for initiatives to encourage shoppers to use the town.

 

Various initiatives had already been introduced including the “Free after Three” parking scheme and amendments to maximum stay times in various places in the town’s parking spaces, both on-street and off-street.

 

At a recent meeting with some of the traders and the Chamber of Commerce the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Planning and Transportation and the Director of Planning and Regeneration were asked if the Council would consider the introduction of free parking on Saturdays during the period between the Christmas illuminations being switched on and Christmas.

 

An application for £20,000 had been made to RERF to compensate for the loss of income and to fund some marketing activity. This had been scored by the Economic Strategy Team and successfully met the criteria for the award of RERF funding

 

Resolved:-  That £20,000 of Rotherham Economic Regeneration Fund (RERF) funding be approved to pay for this initiative.

 

(This minute was exempted from call-in by the Mayor on 4th November, 2009, due to the need to progress and market this initiative with effect from Saturday, 21st November, 2009 and to coincide with the Christmas lights switch-on.)