Agenda item

The joint report of the Director of Street Scene, Leisure and Technical Services and the Director of Central Services and Monitoring Officer set out details of a petition presented by Mr R Selkirk, on behalf of West Malling Parish Council, at the Planning and Transportation Advisory Board held on 12 January 2016.  The petition, which contained 2,500 signatures at that stage but had increased to 3,093 by the date of publication of the Council agenda, objected to the proposed introduction of car parking charges for the West Malling short stay car park.  Members were reminded that, in accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme, any petition containing more than 1,500 signatures had to be discussed at a meeting of the Council. 

The Council heard from Mr R Selkirk, as the organiser of the petition and from Mr R Meader of West Malling Chamber of Commerce, who was allowed to speak on the matter in accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 5.17.4.  The Mayor reminded Members that their debate on the matter was limited to fifteen minutes and that, as the issue which had given rise to the petition was a matter for the Executive, any recommendation of the Council should inform that debate. 

It was proposed by Councillor N Heslop and seconded by Councillor M Coffin that Cabinet be requested to consider the proposed introduction of car parking charges in West Malling at its next meeting, taking into account both the petition received from West Malling Parish Council and the outcome of the formal public consultation exercise currently being undertaken.  Upon receipt of the necessary requisition under Council Procedure Rule 8.4 voting on the motion was recorded as follows:

Members voting for the motion:

Cllr Mrs J A Anderson, Cllr O C Baldock, Cllr M A C Balfour, Cllr Mrs S M Barker, Cllr M C Base, Cllr Mrs S Bell, Cllr R P Betts, Cllr P F Bolt, Cllr J L Botten, Cllr V M C Branson, Cllr Mrs B A Brown, Cllr T I B Cannon, Cllr M A Coffin, Cllr D J Cure, Cllr R W Dalton, Cllr D A S Davis, Cllr M O Davis, Cllr B T M Elks, Cllr Mrs S M Hall, Cllr S M Hammond, Cllr Mrs M F Heslop, Cllr N J Heslop, Cllr S R J Jessel, Cllr D Keeley, Cllr Mrs F A Kemp, Cllr S M King, Cllr R D Lancaster, Cllr D Lettington, Cllr Mrs S L Luck, Cllr D Markham, Cllr P J Montague, Cllr L J O’Toole, Cllr M Parry-Waller, Cllr M Rhodes, Cllr H S Rogers, Cllr C P Smith, Cllr Ms S V Spence, Cllr A K Sullivan, Cllr F G Tombolis, Cllr B W Walker and Cllr T C Walker

Total 41

Members voting against the motion:

Cllr T Bishop, Cllr Mrs T Dean, Cllr Mrs A S Oakley, Cllr R V Roud, Cllr Miss S O Shrubsole and Cllr M Taylor

Total 6

Members abstaining:

Cllr B J Luker

Total 1

The motion was accordingly declared carried.