To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllrs James Bevan (substitute Judy Davis), Brian Edwards (substitute Jane Horne), Di Martin (substitute Lynn Sterry) and Don Pugh (substitute Frank Baynham).

To receive any declarations of interest in any matter to be discussed at the meeting.  Members and officers are requested to identify the nature of the interest and indicate whether it is personal or prejudicial.

Following clarification from the Group Manager for Legal and Democratic, Marie Rosenthal, on the protocol for the declaration of personal and prejudicial interests, the following declarations were made: -

Cabinet members, Patrick Molyneux, Brian Robinson, Martin Quaile and Terry Hale each declared a prejudicial interest in item 4 of the agenda, (call in of the cabinet decision relating to the management of parking in the Forest of Dean), on account of their role as cabinet member and as decision makers of the call-in decision. Councillor Terry Hale also declared a personal interest as a member of Newland Parish Council.

Councillor Carole Allaway Martin declared a personal interest in item 4 of the agenda, (call in of the cabinet decision relating to the management of parking in the Forest of Dean), as a member of Coleford Town Council.

Councillor Bill Evans declared a personal interest in item 4 of the agenda, (call in of the cabinet decision relating to the management of parking in the Forest of Dean), as a member of Newland Parish Council.

Councillor Lynn Sterry declared a personal interest in item 4 of the agenda, (call in of the cabinet decision relating to the management of parking in the Forest of Dean), as a member of Cinderford Town Council.

Councillor Max Coborn declared a personal interest in item 4 of the agenda, (call in of the cabinet decision relating to the management of parking in the Forest of Dean), as a member of Cinderford Town Council.

Councillor Val Hobman declared a personal interest in item 4 of the agenda, (call in of the cabinet decision relating to the management of parking in the Forest of Dean), as a member of Lydney Town Council.

Councillor Bill Osborne declared a personal interest in item 4 of the agenda, (call in of the cabinet decision relating to the management of parking in the Forest of Dean), as a member of Lydney Town Council.

Councillor David Thomson declared a personal interest in item 4 of the agenda, (call in of the cabinet decision relating to the management of parking in the Forest of Dean), as a member of Ruardean Parish Council.

Councillor Bruce Hogan declared a personal interest in item 4 of the agenda, (call in of the cabinet decision relating to the management of parking in the Forest of Dean), as a member of Lydbrook Parish Council.

Councillor Bernie O’Neill declared a personal interest in item 4 of the agenda, (call in of the cabinet decision relating to the management of parking in the Forest of Dean), as a member of Cinderford Town Council.

Councillor Marion Winship declared a personal interest in item 4 of the agenda, (call in of the cabinet decision relating to the management of parking in the Forest of Dean), as a member of Alvington Parish Council.

Councillor Marrilyn Smart OBE declared a personal interest in item 4 of the agenda, (call in of the cabinet decision relating to the management of parking in the Forest of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

The chairman to outline the process for the call-in meeting.

The chairman of the committee, Cllr Burford, outlined the process for the call-in, emphasising that he intended to allow any member and the town mayors to speak, time allowing. The committee had to reach a resolution within the time constraints of the meeting or the cabinet's decision stood.

After clarification of several points and two corrections, the chairman invited members who had called in the cabinet decision to give brief further detail to support their reasons.

The minutes do not contain repeated information.

A request was received on 9 September to call in the decision of the Cabinet made at its 9 October 2008 meeting to approve the parking management recommendations in report F.124.

The call-in notice detailing signatories and reasons, relevant draft cabinet minute with resolution and report F.124 are attached.

Evidence from councillors who called in the decision

Cllr McMahon believed the cabinet decision to be speculative, unworkable, unwanted and poorly conceived. It had only surveyed Coleford car parks and had not considered the effects of the economic downturn and had not been fully worked up. The charging regime seemed to him to be another form of taxation. There were costing discrepancies and owners such as supermarkets had not been consulted. He asked how the free car parks had been chosen.

He asked for the evidence base to support the issue of two fines per day per enforcement officer. He pointed to the mileage costs for enforcement at over 41,000 per year. There had been no mention of non-payment of fines, the cost of the pay-and-display machines and signage. He asked for clarification on back office annual increases.

He mentioned that a local petition had received around 5000 signatures and that an on-line poll had over 95 per cent against charging. He also asked for accurate charges for RTA consultancy, since there had been a discrepancy in figures given. He recommended that the Cabinet took the time to re-think and put forward a proposal that was workable and well thought through.

Cllr Bill Evans reminded the committee that the Cabinet had decided to put the issue on hold, when it had first arisen in 2008, because of the economic downturn. He saw no difference in 2011 and stated that if it had not been the right decision in 2008 then it was not the right decision in 2011. He quoted Article 13 of the council's constitution regarding decisions needing to be fair, justifiable, reasonable and not perverse.

Cllr Hiett believed that the Cabinet decision did not follow the corporate priority to promote a thriving economy and tourism, but was simply a means to save £350,000. All the figures in the RTA report were geared around that, not to make parking better for the community, jobs, shops and tourism. People from outlying villages had no choice but to travel to the towns to shop. He claimed that the only growth industry in the towns was charity shops.

He believed the Cabinet decision to be a great mistake and warned against underestimating the people of the district.

He added that even the Secretary of State for DCLG had said that car park charging was not good for local economies and that Newport had reduced its charge to 10p per hour to address the current situation.

In report F.124 Cllr Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Planning Policy had stated one reason as freeing up car park spaces. Cllr Hiett maintained that there was no problem apart from Newent and Cinderford. He also questioned figures based on a survey that was five years old.

The decision had been fundamentally flawed, outside the stated corporate priority and the committee should have undertaken a thorough scrutiny of the issue when first raised to make recommendations for a sensible proposal. The lesson should be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.