Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Head of Planning Services on the Council’s Civil Parking Enforcement proposals.

Agreed to hold further negotiations with Cambridgeshire County Council and other authorities over the possible introduction of Civil Parking Enforcement and requested a further report when appropriate.

By way of a report by the Heads of Planning Services and of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were acquainted with the background to the option of introducing Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) as a way of improving the level of on street parking enforcement throughout the County.

Members were reminded that the District Council’s management of the off-street parking arrangements was to a high standard, but that there was little enforcement of on-street restrictions by the Police, with no likelihood of any improvement unless CPE was introduced.

In discussing the implications for the District Council, Executive Councillors were advised that the Department for Transport preferred a co-ordinated approach to on and off-street parking enforcement. With this in mind, initial discussions had been held with Cambridgeshire County Council to explore possible operational scenarios for a joint scheme.  In that respect, Executive Councillors were of the opinion that any change should not be to the detriment of the existing off-street arrangements and mention also was made to the potential impact on the street ranger service which currently combined parking enforcement with a range of other front line services, the cost effectiveness of which could be affected by its separation from parking enforcement.

Having noted the deliberations of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) on the matter, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

  that further negotiations be held with Cambridgeshire County Council and other authorities over the possible introduction of Civil Parking Enforcement and a further report submitted to the Cabinet when appropriate.

To consider a report by the Transportation Team Leader on the Council’s Civil Parking Enforcement proposals.

(Councillor D B Dew, Executive Councillor for Planning Strategy and Transport was in attendance for this Item).

The Panel considered a report by the Head of Planning Services and Head of Operations (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) outlining the options open to the Council for pursuing civil parking enforcement (CPE) in a co-ordinated approach as encouraged by the Department for Transport.

The Panel was advised that the potential for a countywide CPE operation had been discussed between the County and District Councils and various service delivery options had been considered.

Members were informed that while there was a general view that better enforcement, particularly with respect to on street parking, would be beneficial, further work was required regarding the financial impact on the authority before any formal decisions could be taken with regard to the concept of extending CPE.  This would also be subject to an application to Government for the delegation of the necessary powers.

Members were reminded that the enforcement of both charged and non-charged car parks was currently carried out by the Council’s Street Ranger service along with small areas of charged on-street parking managed via an agency agreement with the County Council.  It was likely that a move to CPE within Huntingdonshire would result in a need to significantly increase on-street parking charges which could have an effect in increasing the demand for off street parking provision.

The Panel was acquainted with the different scenarios available, with the County Council indicating their preference for managing both on and off-street arrangements which would have the potential drawback of requiring the transfer of some District Council staff.

The Panel was informed that whichever method of administration was adopted the difference in terms of income would be an approximate loss of £37,000, although this might be offset by the potential for increased Council revenue from the increased use of off street car parks.  It was therefore

  RESOLVED

  that Cabinet be recommended to support the continuation of

  negotiations with the County Council regarding the possible

      introduction of CPE in Huntingdonshire.