Decision details

Sites are required in Ipswich to provide COVID-19 testing for the general public which are within easy walking distance for residents. Portman Road car park has been identified as such a site. It is proposed to grant a license to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to occupy and use part of the Portman Road car park which will result in the temporary loss and closure of 100 car parking spaces (i.e. less than 20% of the spaces available within the Council’s car parks in that immediate area).

The period of the license will run for a period of up to 6 months (to not later than 31st May 2021).

The Leader of the Council, the Portfolio Holder, the Leaders of the Opposition Parties and Ward Councillors (Gipping and Alexandra) have been informed that this decision is likely – none have objected to it.

To authorise the Operations Manager for Property to enter into a license with the Secretary of State for HCLG for the temporary use of part of Portman Road car park on such terms and conditions to be agreed for a period of up to 6 months (period to expire on or before 31st May 2021) and to authorise the Operations Manager for Property to agree the terms and conditions of the license following consultation with the Head of Culture and Environmental Services and Operations Manager for Legal and Democratic Services

Reasons

To enable the use of a site for testing for COVID-19.