DENT PARISH COUNCIL -CAR PARK COMMITTEE

Dent Parish News CLICK HERE

A Plan for Dentdale CLICK HERE

Minutes of Dent Parish Council CLICK HERE

Minutes of the Playing Field Committee CLICK HERE

Dent Parish Council Annual Report CLICK HERE

Minutes of Meeting held on Tuesday 18^th September 2007

In the Reading Room

Present: David Hartley (Chair), Jock Cairns, Ann Wilson.

1.             Apologies None

2.             Minutes of meeting held on 15 August 2007

The minutes were approved.

3.             Administrator’s report

1. Keys: DH has had duplicate keys cut for the cleaning cupboard
2. Ticket Machine: the car park meter was out of action on August Bank Holiday Monday, but is now working again
3. External Lights: These are now responding to the sensor again, though a new sensor may soon be needed and internal light fittings may need replacing.
4. Notice Board: Agreed that present notice board may be redundant.  DH to summarise key bye laws for display on the ticket machine.    DH
5. Plumbing repairs: The top outside tap is now blanked off, the cracked Ladies’ toilet pan has been replaced and two leaks have been repaired. The washbasins have been serviced by Wallgate, who expressed the view that the basins should last at least another 7 years.
6. Water meter:  DH to investigate feasibility of a water meter with United Utilities.                                                                                        DH
7. Hot Water: DH to investigate cost of sink for cleaning with hot water supply, in new cupboard near entrance to Gents.                          DH
8. Bins: DH to investigate cost of replacing bins in Ladies and Gents, and cost of providing bins for sanitary waste in Ladies                                   DH
9. Toilet roll dispensers: DH to consult with Dent Stores re. installing larger toilet roll dispensers, and to investigate cost.                         DH

4.             Finance

The following payments were authorised:

               Spare Keys                                 £15.00

               Light Bulbs                                  £20.73

               Servicing washbasins                    £438.67

5.             YDNPA Assistance

1. Concrete under Skips: awaiting response from Paul Drake
2. Dog waste: Bin removed by DH and held for Paul Wilkinson to collect.  Situation to be kept under review
3. Wooden signs at edge of picnic area: Awaiting action by Paul Wilkinson
4. Signs on Toilet Block: DH to deal with problems raised by YDNPA re. refurbishment.                                                                                DH

6.             Street Parking in Dent

The 36 responses received to the 120 letters sent to residents were considered (see Appendix A).  The following points were noted:

1.       Whilst a large number of people disapproved of parking on the cobbles, there was support for an approach based on persuasion rather than coercion.

2.       Opinion on what to do with the pieces of land opposite The Sun and Dent Stores was evenly divided, with twelve people wanting this land freely available for any parking, and eleven people wanting parking on it restricted to adjacent householders.

3.       Ten people identified a parking problem on the roads around The Green.

4.       Parking by the playing field was not perceived to be a problem.

1.       A number of options for action were considered (see Appendix B) and the Committee made the recommendations to the Parish Council contained in Appendix B.

7.             Employees

It was agreed to recommend the following to the Parish Council:

1.       The Parish Council should appoint a new Car Park Administrator to carry out the duties described in the Job Description (see Appendix C)

2.       The post should be paid on a zero hours contract at the rate of £8 per hour

3.       The post should be advertised within Dentdale and in Lookaround

Appendix A: Street Parking Survey
 

Appendix B: Street Parking Survey – Options and Recommendations

Options considered

Parking on the Cobbles

1. Ask Cumbria Highways to impose parking restrictions
2. Put up (unofficial?) notices on approaches to village
3. Put up unofficial notices on houses along cobbles
4. Write to householders asking them not to park on the cobbles
5. Allow multiple holiday cottage car park permits
6. Allow holiday cottage owners free car park permits
7. Take no action

The Green

1. Take no action
2. Repaint the bays
3. Ask Cumbria Highways to impose parking restrictions, including yellow lines
4. Relocate and enlarge “Residents’ Parking” signs
5. Issue permits and restrict parking to vehicles displaying a permit
6. Allocate parking spaces to residents
7. Ask householders around The Green to challenge any obstructive parking

Road near Playing Field

            Take no action

Land opposite Sun and Stores

1. Take no action
2. Acquire control of land, in order to sell/rent parking spaces to residents/all householders
3. Mark out parking spaces
4. Limit parking on this land to 30 minutes
5. Ask for volunteers from householders to enforce any arrangements

Recommendations to the Parish Council:

1.      The Parish Council should write to residents and businesses close to the cobbles to explain the views expressed by residents and to enlist their help in keeping the cobbles clear of parked vehicles.

2.      The Parish Council should pay for the signs already discussed with Cumbria Highways to direct visitors to the car park, subject to planning agreement.

3.      The Parish Council should acquire control over the pieces of land owned by CCC opposite The Sun and Dent Stores, and allocate some parking spaces on them for use by holders of resident’s car parking permits.

4.      Holiday cottage owners should be allowed to buy as many parking permits as they wished.

5.      The residents’ parking bays around The Green should be repainted so that they do not block entrances.

6.      Residents around The Green should be encouraged to challenge any obstructive parking.

7.      The “Residents’ Parking” signs around The Green should be enlarged, and in some cases relocated.

8.      No further action should be taken at present to control parking opposite the playing field, but the situation should be kept under review.

9.      Before proceeding further, Cumbria Highways should be consulted about the feasibility of the above proposals, and any further ideas they might have.

Appendix C: Proposed Job Description

1. Job Title

Car Park Administrator – Part time

2.       Aims of the post

1. To ensure the Car Park, picnic area, toilet block and bus shelter are maintained to a high standard
2. To ensure a continuous flow of income from the ticket machine and from permits
3. To keep the Parish Council informed of all relevant issues

3.       Duties

a.       Money collection and banking

To empty the ticket machine, count and bank the cash at least once a week from November to March and at least twice a week from April to October.

b.       Management of staff

To manage the work of the toilet cleaner

c.       Ticketing

1.       To carry out routine maintenance of the ticket machine in accordance with Supervisor’s manual

2.       To liaise with Cale Briparc regarding technical service assistance as and when needed

3.       To meet regularly with the volunteers in order to co-ordinate their work including any ticketing carried out by them

d.       Permits

1.       To organise the printing and distribution of residents’ permits.

2.       To maintain a list of commercial and other large vehicles that use the car park and organise the issuing of permits and the collection of payments.

3.       To maintain a list of holiday cottage owners who apply for permits, and organise the issuing of permits and the collection of payments.

e.       Maintenance

1.       To ensure the toilets and bus shelter are maintained to a high standard, and that any necessary maintenance and repairs are carried out promptly

2.       To ensure the boundary walls are in good repair

3.       To ensure the grass is cut when needed

f.         Contractors

1.       To obtain quotations for work to be carried out by contractors, in accordance with the Parish Council’s financial policy

2.       To check that work or services supplied by contractors has been carried out satisfactorily

g.       Liaison with Parish Council

1.       To attend meetings of the Car Park Committee to report on current issues

2.       To refer any urgent matters to a member of the Car Park Committee as soon as possible

h.       Health and Safety

1.       To be aware of health and safety issues and report any areas of risk to the Car Park Committee

2.       To carry out and record regular risk assessments.

i.         Other duties

To undertake any other duties that may be required from time to time by the Car Park Committee or the Parish Council

Minutes of Meeting held on Wednesday 15^th August 2007

In the Reading Room