Cabinet to discuss parking charges at County Hall today (From Western Telegraph)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting WT NEWS to 80360, or email
us
Cabinet to discuss parking charges at County Hall today
10:30am Monday 30th November 2009 in
The Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet has been recommended to push ahead with hugely controversial parking charges.
Despite widespread opposition against introducing parking charges into struggling towns right in the middle of a recession, the report of director of transportation Ian Westley recommends going ahead with the charges.
The only changes proposed are to make charges at West Street Fishguard, and Long St Newport seasonal (April 1st – September 30th).
The Cabinet report shows that there were more than 110 objections to the parking charges being introduced.
Among others, objections came from Assembly Members, chambers of trade, business circles and many members of the public.
But the report states: "Many of the objections received are the same or similar to those previously raised in 2006 and have been addressed by the report commissioned for that purpose."
Last week the Western Telegraph revealed how the county council paid out £67,000 on that report.
The Cabinet – made up entirely of members of the ruling Independent Group on the council is meeting today (Monday) at 10am at County Hall to make a decision.
All Cabinet meetings are open to the public.
If the charges are given the go-ahead they will be introduced "as soon as practicable" in 2010.
Comments(14)
Dave Edwards
says...
5:04pm Fri 27 Nov 09
Gwallgof
says...
6:54pm Fri 27 Nov 09
indeview
says...
10:27am Sat 28 Nov 09
What else can they do as they do not have any policies that we voted for?
Most elected Councillors will not have a say in this decision, and we do not elect the Council's chief officers.
Would there be any point in going back to the system where all councillors sat on committees and the Council with responsibility for decisions?
At least officers would then have to convince 60 Councillors with a potential election to lose, rather than the supine 10.
indeview
says...
11:14am Sat 28 Nov 09
I thought Cabinet could only approve proposals within Council approved policy and budget?
Of course, we are not allowed to know how much of our money the Cabinet is being asked to invest, or what services we might have to forgoe if they decide to do so.
Why do our Councillors let the Cabinet get away with these matters?
It seems that most of out councillors are irrelevant.
Dave Edwards
says...
12:37pm Sat 28 Nov 09
I have emailed the monitoring officer to point this out, and also to point out that as the acquisition of an equity stake is not a contract then there is no exempt item to be discussed and so Vic the Voter should be allowed to stay - a forlorn hope.
Part 3, page7, item40 of the Council's constitution clearly states that the investment policy of PCC is reserved for Full Council and I can find no reference to "equity stakes" in the Corporate Plan adopted by Full Council. I plead "ultra vires" M,lud!
Dave Edwards
says...
12:39pm Sat 28 Nov 09
I have emailed the monitoring officer to point this out, and also to point out that as the acquisition of an equity stake is not a contract then there is no exempt item to be discussed and so Vic the Voter should be allowed to stay - a forlorn hope.
Part 3, page7, item40 of the Council's constitution clearly states that the investment policy of PCC is reserved for Full Council and I can find no reference to "equity stakes" in the Corporate Plan adopted by Full Council. I plead "ultra vires" M,lud!
indeview
says...
1:21pm Sat 28 Nov 09
You never know, the Cabinet of 10 may decide that our ( the public interest/council taxpayer) need to know why, where from and how much of our money is to be used outweighs the interest of keeping the information secret.
Is our council a private bank? What benefits will the County get? Perhaps the extra income from car parking charges could be used.
philipw
says...
9:40pm Sat 28 Nov 09
I despair of the voters of Pembs, I really think they get what they deserve.
People like OG and Joyce Watson have the balls(sic) to at least challenge the status quo.Where are the rest of you.
celtic vision
says...
2:20pm Sun 29 Nov 09
David Phillips
says...
5:15pm Sun 29 Nov 09
Pembrokeshire County Hall should be re-named Guantanimo Bay because our un-elected government officers only take about 1 week to " brain wash" our newly elected councillors and get them fitted out in " orange boiler suits" job done, carry on milking the rate payers as usual and you councillors, just sit back and do as you are told.
timb01
says...
12:58pm Wed 2 Dec 09
The real winner of course not the residents but BIG BUSINESS - so from now on in Pembroke Dock all the traffic will now turn into the Tesco car park with a similar situation in Milford Haven and give the small towns and their businesses the last rites.
Can a highly paid council civil servant and councillors in the warrnth and relative security of a busy County Town not see this or are they immune from the implications of such a short sighted decision?
Maybe we will now need to give planning permission to help Tesco and similar to build their own multi-storey car parks.
There is perhaps a strong case for "moving on" those who park all day in such a car park but not one that deters shoppers from these towns.
This seems so OBVIOUS to any normal person - was there any real public consultation?
Say RIP now to independent retail business within Pembrokeshire - and congratulate your local council and its officers who will soon be very concerned at the state of the local towns!
billbob
says...
9:04am Thu 3 Dec 09
philipw
says...
10:37am Thu 3 Dec 09
These sort of decisions will never be made though when you have so called independent group who have no mandate.All policies are made by the council officials and as they say'turkeys don't vote for Xmas'.
I hope the Pembs electorate will at last get the message that they are losing out and vote for some real politics at the next locals.
More News stories
- £2m Slebech estate put on the market after administration blow
- Nash Fingerpost accident blackspot to be looked at again
- Norovirus outbreak at Withybush hospital
- 'Nurse training the key to prevent future Minor Injury Unit closures'
- Wind turbines impact to be examined by Pembrokeshire planners
- Loner found with child sex abuse pictures released by top judges
- Residents outline Haverfordwest Castle concerns over 'boutique hotel' plans
- Angle RNLI crew clock up the hours as the busiest in Wales
- Family raise funds to fight meningitis after baby son's death
- Police and Park team up to tackle damaging off-road activities
Most popular
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
billbob says...
3:20pm Fri 27 Nov 09