Policy and Project Advisory Board - Tuesday, 24th March, 2026 7.00 pm - Agenda and draft minutes

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 9th December, 2025 (copy attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 9th December, 2025 were agreed as a correct record.

Following the approval of a Motion at the Council meeting in October, 2025 and the initial discussion at the Board’s December 2025, meeting, to consider offering free or discounted car parking for shoppers in Aldershot and Farnborough town centres (copy of Motion wording attached).

 

Lee McQuade, Economy and Growth Service Manager, will be in attendance at the meeting to provide a short presentation and to guide the discussion.

The Chair welcomed Mr Lee McQuade, Economy and Growth Service Manager and Mr David Phillips, Service Manager – Commercial Services, who provided further information in relation to the approval of a Motion at the October, 2025 Council meeting that had called upon the Board to consider whether free or discounted car parking might be offered to shoppers in Aldershot and Farnborough town centres. The Board was reminded that an initial discussion on this matter had been held at its meeting in December, 2025. The wording of the agreed Motion was attached to the agenda and this requested that officers, under guidance from PPAB, should develop a suitable method of consulting residents, local businesses and potential investors about the likely impact of free or discounted parking and how it might work best.

 

Members were reminded that, at the December meeting, it had been explained that evidence showed that parking cost could influence behaviour and that high charges could discourage short visits, impulse shopping and the use of cafes and other hospitality outlets but it was also acknowledged that cost was one of many factors that could affect these decisions. It was agreed at the December meeting that officers would:

 

·                    Assess the impact of limited or targeted changes, e.g. time-limited offers at specific car parks

 

·                    Present PPAB with information to assess views on these options

 

·                    Exclude wider measures e.g. refund mechanisms or other ways to support town centre businesses

 

·                    Note that no formal consultation with residents or businesses had taken place at this stage

 

The Board was informed that research had shown that free parking trials had been carried out in Farnham, Cambridge and Peterborough but, in each case, special circumstances had prevailed, such as major roadwork disruption in Farnham town centre. In Rochford a 30-minute free parking pilot had been trialled, aimed at supporting quick trips and boosting local access.  It was found, however, that whilst the trial had encouraged shorter stays but it had not increased overall time spent in the town and longer stays had been found to contribute significantly more to High Street spending.

 

Following the December meeting, officers had worked up three options  for the Board’s consideration:

 

·                    Free after 3pm at High Street Multi-Storey Car Park (MSCP), Napier Gardens and Farnborough Leisure Centre

 

·                    £1 after 3pm at High Street MSCP, Napier Gardens and Farnborough Leisure Centre

 

·                    Free on Sundays at all car parks

 

Members were informed that Option 1 (free after 3pm at selected car parks) would lead to a predicted loss of income or £68,585 over a twelve-month period, Option 2 (£1 after 3pm at selected car parks) would lose £26,682 p.a. and Option 3 (free on Sundays) would lose £100,330 per year. In considering these figures, the Board was informed that additional costs had not been included at this stage, such as the reprogramming of ticketing machines and the advertising of the new tariffs. There was also the likelihood that drivers would divert from other Council-owned car parks to the cheaper car parks, therefore reducing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

Following the approval of a Motion at the Council meeting in December, 2025, to consider matters relating to the maintenance of unattached land (copies of Motion minute wording and document outlining process and cost of acquiring Crown Land attached).

 

James Duggin, Executive Head of Operations, will be in attendance at the meeting to provide a presentation and to guide the discussion.

The Chair welcomed Mr James Duggin, Executive Head of Operations, and Ms Julia Hutley-Savage, Principal Regeneration and Property Solicitor, who presented information in relation to the maintenance of unattached land, which had been the subject of a Motion that had been approved at the Council meeting in December, 2025. The wording of the Minute relating to the agreed Motion was attached to the agenda and requested that the Board should consider and report to the Cabinet:

 

·                    Feasibility and associated costs of undertaking an urgent review of all parcels of unattached or unregistered land within the Borough, in order to confirm the appropriate owners and clarify responsibility for their maintenance

 

·                    The extent of emergency works needed to address neglected areas and the funding requirements for this

 

·                    The projected costs, resource implications and legal considerations of the Council assuming ongoing responsibility for maintaining such areas on a permanent basis

 

·                    Proposals for the establishment of a formal working partnership with Crown land authorities, Hampshire County Council and other relevant bodies including, where appropriate, Rushmoor agencies to coordinate land management and ensure clarity of ownership and responsibility

 

The Board was advised that there were four ways that the Council could take ownership of Crown land:

 

·                    Negotiated Purchase – direct negotiation with the Crown Estate to acquire land

 

·                    Bona Vacantia Process – acquisition of land from dissolved companies through formal application to the Bona Vacantia Division (BVD) of the government Legal Department

 

·                    Adverse Possession – obtaining of ownership by the uninterrupted use of land for 30 years without the owner’s consent

 

·                    Compulsory Purchase – although this generally cannot be used against the Crown

 

In relation to non-Crown land, there were several ways that the Council could take ownership of land including all of the above, with the exception of the Bona Vacantia Process.

 

Members were informed of the processes and costs associated with each of these options and this information had also been including within the agenda pack.

 

In conclusion, the Board was advised that:

 

·                    There was an unknown quantity of parcels of Crown or unattached land across the Borough

 

·                    The Council did not have sufficient resources within the core establishment for a significant acquisition process

 

·                    Costs of acquisition were not fully known and would be highly variable based on a number of factors

 

·                    A trial process was recommended to learn more

 

The Board was asked to consider:

 

·                    Members’ views on the overall purpose of this project

 

·                    Given the current resourcing picture, how did Members want to proceed?

 

·                    How would the Council determine community benefit to any proposed acquisitions?

 

·                    Would the Board be happy to consider a trial?

 

·                    What updates would Members like to see before the next meeting?

 

In discussing the content of the presentation, the Board raised the following points:

 

·                    Queried what would happen if conducting a trial acquisition as LGR happened – confirmed the new Council would have to continue if contracts exchanged

 

·                    Confirmed that some large areas involved but expected to be mostly small parcels – but not known for sure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

To discuss the Policy and Project Advisory Board Work Plan (copy attached).

The Board noted the current Work Plan.