If you’ve read either of the local papers today, there’s a bit of a focus on one element of the recently considered ‘Car Park Review’.

The report which was considered by the council’s Corporate Select Committee on the 17^th April and approved by the council’s executive on Tuesday night set’s out a proposed strategy for car parking across the High Peak from now until 2015, along with a detailed action plan for the first year and recommendations to review charging and investment plans around car parking prior to the 2013/14 budget cycle.

But one thing it doesn’t set out now (and may not even when the review moves on to charging later in the year) is any proposals to add to, or increase charges for parking, what it does set out to do, is review various elements of parking, the details of which you can view for yourself in the report which is available on the council’s website or by clicking here

In terms of ‘on street parking’, the key action agreed in the report is to :

b. Review on-street parking through amendments to the limited waiting parking areas and in conjunction with Derbyshire County Council as highway authority.

The details for why the review is requested is set out in the on street parking section of the report which is on pages 11 and 12 of the report, and highlights that at current 1 in 4 drivers would rather risk a penalty notice than pay for parking and that because of this reduced turnover in parking spaces, not only can the council lose money, but there is also a loss of income to local businesses as well.

With reference to blue badges, again there is no proposal to introduce a charge, the key action agreed in the report is to :

f. Review the charging for Blue Badge holders for off-street parking;

Now this may conclude like nearby Tameside to introduce a charge, but equally it may recommend no change, but as with the issue of on-street parking, there is a section of the report on page 14 and the top of page 15 that lists some of the issues around disabled parking.

The review also considers issues around car parks in general, residents parking, coach and truck parking, motor bikes, taxis and more or less anything else you might want to consider on parking, along with an action plan (on pages 21-25) that details dates within the year when more information on the various stages of the ‘review’ will be complete.

There’s just over a week left for locals to give their views on the Council’s draft tenancy strategy.

The tenancy strategy is being published in response to a requirement of the Localism Act 2011 which enables the council as a landlord to make choices about how they will manage social and affordable housing in the future.

The strategy will in addition to shaping the council’s response to management of housing issues also become a requirement for other social landlords such as housing associations to consider whilst operating housing in the HighPeak.

Following some initial consultation, a number of key principals have being determined, these principals are : affordable rent will only be used where it is required, all tenancies will be lifetime tenancies where we can secure it and the council will continue to operate an open waiting list (ie we wont ad any restriction to people signing up to home options) – Annex 1 of the draft  strategy expands upon these principals.

The strategy also makes recommendations on issues including affordable rents, property conversions and fixed-term tenancies.

You can view the strategy which includes 10 specific consultation question’s (you can of course comment beyond the questions – if they don’t cover an issue you want to cover) by visiting www.highpeak.gov.uk/hp/council-services/affordable-housing/tenancy-strategy, and downloading the document and consultation questions (you can also click here)

To respond to the document you can either let me know, e-mail responses to [email protected], or alternatively, you can get involved by writing to Kate, in the housing strategy team, at High Peak Borough Council, Town Hall, Market Place, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6EL.

The consultation started on Monday, April 2 and runs until 5pm on Thursday 19th April.

The questions are aimed specifically at individual tenants / residents, resident and tenants’ groups, and people on the housing waiting list. For more information you can get in touch with me, or e-mail Kate ([email protected]) or call her on 0845 129 7777 (or 01457 851600) ext. 4619.