Car Parking Permit Scheme Rural Needs Impact Assessment
Car Parking Permit Scheme Rural Needs Impact Assessment
| SECTION 1 - Defining the activity subject to Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016 |
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| 1A. Name of Public Authority. | |
| Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council. | |
| 1B. Please provide a short title which describes the activity being undertaken by the Public Authority that is subject to Section 1(1) of the Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016. | |
| The policy, procedures and guidance outline the proposals for a new Car Parking Permit at Townhead Street and East Strand car parks. The scheme has originated as a result of a Council motion to mitigate the move from free to pay and display charging in specific car parks within our borough. | |
| 1C. Please indicate which category the activity specified in Section 1B above relates to. | |
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Developing a Policy ☒ Strategy ☐ Plan ☐ Adopting a Policy ☐ Strategy ☐ Plan ☐ Implementing a Policy ☐ Strategy ☐ Plan ☐ Revising a Policy ☐ Strategy ☐ Plan ☐ Designing a Public Service ☐ Delivering a Public Service ☐ |
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| 1D. Please provide the official title (if any) of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service document or initiative relating to the category indicated in Section 1C above. | |
| Car Parking Permit | |
| 1E. Please provide details of the aims and/or objectives of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service. | |
| In conjunction with our Parking Strategy this scheme will ensure that parking supports the local economy by facilitating shopping, tourism, local businesses and the needs of local residents. The Car Parking Permit scheme aims to define a procedure whereby the varying needs of locals can be aligned with our Parking Strategy to create a seamless process, which can be effectively monitored and where necessary enforced in a clear and structured way. | |
| 1F. What definition of ‘rural’ is the Public Authority using in respect of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service? | |
| Population Settlements of less than 5,000 (Default definition). ☒ Other Definition (Provide details and the rationale below). ☐ A definition of ‘rural’ is not applicable. ☐ |
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| Details of alternative definition of ‘rural’ used. | |
| N/A | |
| Rationale for using alternative definition of ‘rural’. | |
| N/A | |
| Reasons why a definition of ‘rural’ is not applicable. | |
| N/A | |
| SECTION 2 - Understanding the impact of the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service |
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| 2A. Is the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service likely to impact on people in rural areas? | |
| Yes ☒ No ☐ If the response is NO GO TO Section 2E. | |
| 2B. Please explain how the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to impact on people in rural areas. | |
| The policy will impact on individuals in rural areas when they come into town to shop and use an essential service. However the dual pilot and consultation process will allow issues to be highlighted by individuals who live in rural areas and raise additional options for mitigation to be considered. |
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| 2C. If the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to impact on people in rural areas differently from people in urban areas, please explain how it is likely to impact on people in rural areas differently. | |
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The policy will not impact on individuals in rural areas when they wish to park outside their homes; alternatively it will impact on individuals living near to Townhead Street and East Strand car parks who previously used the adjacent car park to park their family vehicles free of charge. However the dual pilot and consultation process will allow issues to be highlighted by individuals who live in both rural and urban areas and raise additional options for mitigation to be considered. |
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| 2D. Please indicate which of the following rural policy areas the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is likely to primarily impact on. | |
| Rural Businesses | ☐ |
| Rural Tourism | ☐ |
| Rural Housing | ☐ |
| Jobs or Employment in Rural Areas | ☐ |
| Education or Training in Rural Areas | ☐ |
| Broadband or Mobile Communications in Rural Areas | ☐ |
| Transport Services or Infrastructure in Rural Areas | ☐ |
| Health or Social Care Services in Rural Areas | ☐ |
| Poverty in Rural Areas Deprivation in Rural Areas | ☐ |
| Rural Crime or Community Safety | ☐ |
| Rural Development | ☐ |
| Agri-Environment | ☐ |
| Other (Please state): | Urban shopping for individuals from urban and rural areas. |
| If the response to Section 2A was YES GO TO Section 3A. | |
| 2E. Please explain why the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service is NOT likely to impact on people in rural areas. | |
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SECTION 3 - |
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| 3A. Has the Public Authority taken steps to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas that are relevant to the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service? | |
| Yes ☒ No ☐ If the response is NO GO TO Section 3E. | |
| 3B. Please indicate which of the following methods or information sources were used by the Public Authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas. | |
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Consultation with Rural Stakeholders ☒ Published Statistics ☐ Consultation with Other Organisations ☒ Research Papers ☒ Surveys or Questionnaires ☒ Other Publications ☐ Other Methods or Information Sources (include details in Question 3C below). ☐ |
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| 3C. Please provide details of the methods and information sources used to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas including relevant dates, names of organisations, titles of publications, website references, details of surveys or consultations undertaken etc. | |
| An informal consultation process in the form of a customer survey will commence July 2020. In addition a pilot will commence at the end of June 2020 to allow the identification of issues or suggestions for improvements which will then be taken to Council within the year for consideration. Parties relevant to the consultation have been deemed to be: All residents, community groups, educational establishments and businesses within the borough. |
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| 3D. Please provide details of the social and economic needs of people in rural areas which have been identified by the Public Authority? | |
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An informal consultation process will commence July 2020 which will identify any social or economic needs relevant to the proposed changes. In addition a pilot will commence at the end of June 2020 to allow the identification of issues or suggestions for improvements which will then be taken to Council within the year for consideration. As the proposal is to introduce parking charges in urban town centre car parks there may be additional costs for those in rural areas who wish to park in specific car parks. However it is Councils intention to mitigate this by clearly educating our citizens on alternative free parking and consider any issues or suggestions for improvements raised. Again this may impact on travel to work commuters who use the current free car parks during working hours. It is Councils intention to mitigate this by clearly educating our citizens on alternative free parking. Information will be included on the website relating to alternative free car parking locations and if requested a hard copy of this information can be issued to individuals in large print. Socially it may cost more for individuals from rural areas to socialize in town during operational hours at areas near to the pay and display car parks. However this can be mitigated by those individuals being referred to free car parking nearby any other factors will be considered following consultation. |
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| If the response to Section 3A was YES GO TO Section 4A. | |
| 3E. Please explain why no steps were taken by the Public Authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas? | |
| SECTION 4 - Considering the Social and Economic Needs of Persons in Rural Areas |
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| 4A. Please provide details of the issues considered in relation to the social and economic needs of people in rural areas. | |
The issues to date considered were:
As a result of new parking charges there may increased costs with regards to travel to the area, bus routes are reasonably good to most central shopping hubs, however their usage may result in longer waiting times than for those who can drive. There are other alternative free carparks in the local vicinity to support parking and reduce costs as well as on road parking which would reduce walking distances. There is adequate accessible car parking at the other sites and these will be kept under review. Information will be included on the website relating to free car parking in the area. If requested a hard copy of this information can be issued to individuals in large print. The translation tool will also support those who’s first language is not English to change the language to a more suitable one. Alternatively a virtual map could be devised and uploaded to the website. All current car parks meet accessibility requirements. Socially relevant factors not presently known will be taken into account as a result of the consultation and pilot feedback. |
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| SECTION 5 - Influencing the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service |
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| 5A. Has the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or delivery of the Public Service, been influenced by the rural needs identified? | |
| Yes ☒ No ☐ If the response is NO GO TO Section 5C. | |
| 5B. Please explain how the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or delivery of the Public Service, has been influenced by the rural needs identified. | |
| Any of the previously identified needs will be taken into consideration. Any future needs identified via the informal consultation and or pilot will be taken into consideration. |
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| If the response to Section 5A was YES GO TO Section 6A. | |
| 5C. Please explain why the development, adoption, implementation or revising of the Policy, Strategy or Plan, or the design or the delivery of the Public Service, has NOT been influenced by the rural needs identified. | |
| SECTION 6 - Documenting and Recording |
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| 6A. Please tick below to confirm that the RNIA Template will be retained by the Public Authority and relevant information on the Section 1 activity compiled in accordance with paragraph 6.7 of the guidance. | |
| I confirm that the RNIA Template will be retained and relevant information compiled. ☒ | |
| Rural Needs Impact Assessment undertaken by: | Car Parks Manager |
| Division/Branch | Infrastructure |
| Date: | 26 June 2020 |
| Rural Needs Impact Assessment approved by: | Director Environmental Services |
| Division/Branch | Environmental Services |
| Date: | 24 July 2020 |