Agenda item

That this Council:-

(a)       believes that Christmas trading provides an important boost and seasonal cheer to local businesses, particularly retailers in Sheffield’s City and District Centres;

(b)       notes that other local authorities, including neighbouring Rotherham and Barnsley and nearby Chesterfield, have announced that they will be offering free parking in the run up to Christmas this year;

(c)        recalls the budget amendment of the main opposition group, which proposed to allocate funds for the provision of free Christmas parking;

(d)       welcomes the decision to cut parking charges but believes if the current Administration were serious about their pledge to be “business-friendly” they would go further and provide a repeat of the previous Administration’s free Christmas parking scheme in Sheffield’s City and District Centres;

(e)       furthermore questions the decision of Town Hall “scrooges” to deny traders in Millhouses additional parking provision over the Christmas period; and

(f)         calls upon the Administration to reconsider their Christmas parking policy with immediate effect.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPER CAR PARKING CHARGES

It was moved by Councillor Simon Clement Jones, seconded by Councillor Diana Stimely, that this Council:-

(a)       believes that Christmas trading provides an important boost and seasonal cheer to local businesses, particularly retailers in Sheffield’s City and District Centres;

(b)       notes that other local authorities, including neighbouring Rotherham and Barnsley and nearby Chesterfield, have announced that they will be offering free parking in the run up to Christmas this year;

(c)        recalls the budget amendment of the main opposition group, which proposed to allocate funds for the provision of free Christmas parking;

(d)       welcomes the decision to cut parking charges but believes if the current Administration were serious about their pledge to be “business-friendly” they would go further and provide a repeat of the previous Administration’s free Christmas parking scheme in Sheffield’s City and District Centres;

(e)       furthermore questions the decision of Town Hall “scrooges” to deny traders in Millhouses additional parking provision over the Christmas period; and

(f)         calls upon the Administration to reconsider their Christmas parking policy with immediate effect.

Whereupon, it was moved by Councillor Leigh Bramall, seconded by Councillor Chris Rosling-Josephs, as an amendment, that the Motion now submitted be amended by the deletion of paragraphs (b) to (f) and the addition of new paragraphs (b) to (f) as follows:-

(b)       is pleased to promote the Christmas shopper parking rate of £3 for 6 hours, which will apply to selected city centre car parks, and is a discount from the current rates of up to £9.30 for 6 hours in city centre car parks;

(c)        notes that the Administration is offering this discounted rate despite devastating Government cuts to the Council’s budget, to support businesses over the Christmas period;

(d)       notes that parking changes came into force after the Christmas lights switch on, meaning the rate has been in place from Monday 19th November and will be in place throughout the Christmas period, not just on Wednesday evenings and Saturdays like the previous Administration’s schemes when they were in power;

(e)       is committed to being a business friendly Council and believes it is vital for our City’s economy to have a vibrant city centre, which is why the current Administration is taking action to support businesses in the short term through reduced parking charges and projects like Chapel Walk; and

(f)         is also committed to securing the City’s long term future through key projects such as the Moor redevelopment and continuing its work to deliver Sevenstone.

On being put to the vote, the amendment was carried.

The original Motion, as amended, was then put as a Substantive Motion in the following form and carried:-