This Freedom of Information response (RFI 4211) includes a statement on the refusal of a residents' only permit scheme for Grosvenor Drive (from Norham Road to the junction with Kings Drive).

It refers to the parking scheme policy introduced on 13 September 2011, about which residents were not consulted despite my request (see item 45 below).

Draft Parking Strategy for North Tyneside, 2011-15 - consultation documents: -

• Public Consultation on the Draft North Tyneside Parking Strategy 2011 to 2015 - Report to Cabinet 12 September, 2011

• Appendix 1 - The Draft Parking Strategy

• Parking Strategy - Engagement Plan

N.B. The first and third of these three documents are Word documents - the second is an Excel spreadsheet. If you have trouble viewing these I can supply PDF versions.

Temporary public (and private) web pages are now available here. The information posted on them will remain until it gets out-of-date or webspace space limitations justify its removal!

The Grosvenor Drive Street Party (29 April 2011) - You Tube Video

The Alternative Voting System (from 'You Tube')

Here is a link to a simple explanation - Simple - doesn't require a great brain to understand it, does it?

Here is another link that makes the case through an analogy of buying an ice cream - I prefer chocolate.

Much easier to follow than by listening to politicians!

Residents' Parking Permits - Charges and Renewal

Residents who live in a parking zone covered by a Parking Permit scheme should note that North Tyneside Council has introduced a charge for each additional permit over and above the 2 free permits (one for a registered vehicle and one for a visitor).

The charge was announced in the March 2011 edition of "Widening Horizons" (page 7).

The Council will no longer notify residents that their permits need to be renewed - it is left to residents to remember this and make renewal applications in good time to avoid receiving an unwelcome PCN.

Review of Residents' Permit Parking Policy

From: Robin Smith [mailto:smith.robin@virgin.net] Sent: 10 May 2010 11:33

To: Whitley Bay Area Forum

Cc: ed.hodson@northtyneside.gov.uk

Subject: CAB176/04/10 REVIEW OF RESIDENTS' PERMIT PARKING POLICY [Scanned]

The above was an item on the 12 April last Cabinet meeting but the minutes state it was deferred to the next Cabinet meeting (10 May) today. However is does not appear on the agenda of today's meeting.

I spoke briefly to Cllr. Ed Hodson at the 12 April meeting and he told me the item had been deferred to the next Cabinet meeting. I suggested to Cllr. Hodson that this could be a topic on the next Whitley Bay Area Forum (22 June) and that I would prefer that the Cabinet would simply note the report, pending consultation via Area Forum(s) with residents.

Please advise me whether or not these suggestions have been taken up.

Regards,

Robin Smith (etc.)

Response: -

From: Whitley Bay Area Forum

To: Robin Smith ; Whitley Bay Area Forum

Cc: ed.hodson@northtyneside.gov.uk

Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 9:02 AM

Subject: RE: CAB176/04/10 REVIEW OF RESIDENTS' PERMIT PARKING POLICY [Scanned]

Dear Mr Smith

With regard to your e-mail (above), the Council's Network And Transportation Manager has advised that the Review of Residents' Permit Parking Police (sic) is no longer scheduled to go the June cabinet and is not currently on the forward plan, which means it is not currently scheduled for any future cabinet meeting.

He has advised that the council, in discussion with the Elected Mayor are developing a range of different options on ways of addressing issues linked to the issuing and managing of residents parking and has confirmed that they could give an update on this at the September or December Area Forum.

I hope this information is helpful to you, however, should you wish to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to get back in touch.

Yours sincerely

Karen Willis FORUM ADMINISTRATOR

Council Offices

Despite the exchange recorded above the Council's Cabinet approved a revised Residents' Parking Permit Policy at the meeting on 13 September, 2010 WITHOUT ANY CONSULTATION WITH RESIDENTS.

Webcams

Exmouth has a webcam on the seafront and overlooking the Stand Gardens, in the heart of the town centre. The Exmouth Seafront webcam can be controlled by visitors to the website and usually broadcasts at between 15 and 20 frames per second.

The Strand Gardens webcam overlooks what was a small park with a war memorial at the centre. The area is currently under development to make it into a piazza/events area. The image is updated about once a second and a high resolution still photograph can be captured.

In August I wrote to the Mayor and the Whitley Bay and North Shields Area Forum administrators to suggest a webcam like that on Exmouth Seafront could be obtained for providing a view over Cullercoats Bay or the Mouth of the Tyne. Since then I have also had the idea that a webcam, similar to that used for the Strand Gardens, could be placed to overlook the piazza/events area that is envisaged in front of the Spanish City Dome building.

The webcams I have found in North Tyneside do not seem to be placed to allow views that might be attractive to visitors. One, erected by North Tyneside Council, overlooks the Mouth of the Tyne but the camera has a low resolution and the view is marred by the rooftops of houses. The operators of the Tyne Tunnel provide several webcams covering the Tyne Tunnel(s) but I don't think they are intended to show views that are attractive to potential tourists!

Spanish City Site Developments

There was a special Area Forum for Whitley Bay on 31 August 2010 about Whitley Bay regeneration and the Spanish City Dome buildings in particular.

The notes of this Area Forum meeting are available on North Tyneside Council's website. I asked 2 questions. - The first was about the full planning application for the Dome building that was agreed in February 2007 (ref. 06/0347/FUL); this included a reference to the 2 storey building to the rear that was added after 1920. (I referred to this in my second letter about the link road planning application - see item 42.)

Mr Wison confirmed that the buiding was to be demolished but then went on to state that the proposals by the 2 currently prospective developers of the Spanish City site would not be put out for public consulatation as those 3 earlier developers' proposals had been. The answer given at the meeting was that they would not be. This appeared to be a decision made by Mr Wilson - hence the second question!

The answer to the first question as published - that there would be no consultation with residents before the choice was made by the Cabinet begs the question as to how exactly the Procurement Law has changed since the earlier, extensive consulation when none of the 3 prospective developers was identified.