Issue - meetings

Background:

This report set out a referral from the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding the disposal of part of the King Street car park, Rochester for development.  

It was noted that the Cabinet had agreed in March 2008 to the disposal of various properties, which had included King Street car park. This had been called-in and considered at a meeting of the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Cabinet subsequently agreed to dispose of 50% of the King Street car park area, retaining the remainder for public parking. It was also noted that, in order to establish that the surplus part of the site was suitable for residential development, outline planning permission for eight apartments had been sought which had been refused by the Planning Committee on 7 March 2012. A copy of the planning application and decision notice were attached to the report.

Details of the consideration and referral from the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 21 June 2012 were set out, together with officer comments.

Reasons:

The car park has been unable to acquire outline planning permission and remains with a low value and un-sold. There is pressure on parking in the surrounding area due to recent and future developments and the local business community requires easily available parking in the immediate vicinity especially during this difficult economic time.