Agenda item

            The Committee was reminded that, at its meeting in January 2021, former Councillor Mulholland, on behalf of former Councillor McMullan, had outlined the following proposal:

“This Council is committed to ensuring that the city and neighbourhood areas of Belfast are accessible and inclusive for disabled people, older people and carers. This Council recognises that access to a car is central to the independence of many people with mobility issues but notes the low provision of accessible bay parking spaces in its off-street car parks with just 3% of its spaces designated as accessible across the city. This Council agrees to join Disability Motoring UK’s Disabled Parking Accreditation scheme to improve the minimum number, size and quality of our accessible bay parking spaces. This Council further notes this is one of many interventions that need to be taken by this Council and partners as part of our commitment to an inclusive COVID-19 response and recovery and our commitment in the Belfast Agenda to become an accessible city for all by 2035.”

            It was reported that the Committee had been provided with updates on the motion through quarterly Notice of Motion updates that officers had contacted the British Parking Association (BPA) to discuss the general principles of the accreditation criteria and how this could be achieved within the Council’s current portfolio.

            Along with general access requirements and a prerequisite number of bays, consideration would also be made of the standard and location of the pay and display machines within each car park. Following these conditions being met, the Council could apply for accreditation and pay an annual fee for membership. Officers had met with the BPA to conduct site assessments, within the charged car parks in the city centre, to apply the criteria for the accreditation and making recommendations where appropriate.

            The Committee was informed that, to achieve accreditation, car parks must not only have accessible bays correctly marked and in the specified number but must also have alternative ways to enter and pay. Following the site assessments, the BPA noted that, although our provision was below the number designated within the criteria, there was an under use of DB bays. This could be explained by the number of blue badge holders parked on-street within the vicinity of car parks.

            The general condition of the car parks was deemed acceptable, with an acknowledgement that some additional pedestrian access was required for people with more complex needs and the reconfiguration of some DB’s for the same purpose. Officers had examined how to reconfigure the car parks to meet the criteria, including structural changes where required. It was also noted that most of the car parks had been earmarked for development and City Regeneration and Development were currently advancing plans for these locations.

            It was reported that officers were in the process of reconfiguring the car parks to address the comments made during the Strategic Site Assessments.

            Rather than incur the cost of accreditation, (£5,100 for initial registration and a £2,550 yearly fee), it was recommended that any costs should go towards work to reach compliance with the BPA’s audit recommendations (attached at Appendix 1).

            It was explained that there could be costs to get the car parks relined for additional DB accommodation, including remarking and any structural works. These costs would be delivered within existing budgets.

            The Committee:

·        Noted the update on progress with respect to the original notice of motion detailed at section 3.1; and

·        Noted the Council’s desire to make parking provision compliant with the provisions set out in the Park Access criteria but not to seek accreditation.