Issue - meetings

To receive a report by the Interim Head of Service (Operations) on the outcome of the review work conducted regarding the desirability of the Council supporting the introduction of Civil Parking Enforcement powers.

That the Cabinet:

 i.  Does not commit to being the County Council’s agent for Civil Parking Enforcement in Huntingdonshire because the case for such powers has not yet been made and such powers are not financially viable.

ii.  Agrees that the Parking Service should engage with the County Council about the development of a comprehensive traffic management strategy for Huntingdonshire that includes funding by the County for the infrastructure costs if the strategy proposes a Civil Enforcement Area for the district.

The Cabinet was provided with a report (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) of the outcome of the review into the desirability of the Council in supporting the County Council to adopt Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) powers.

The Cabinet endorsed the outcome of the review and agreed that the Council should not commit to being the County Council’s agent for CPE in Huntingdonshire on the basis that the case for such powers had not yet been made and such powers were not financially viable.

However, the Cabinet agreed that the Parking Service should engage with the County Council about the development of a comprehensive traffic management strategy for Huntingdonshire that included funding by the County for the infrastructure costs if the strategy proposed a Civil Enforcement Area (CEA) for the District.

Although the creation of a CEA in Huntingdonshire was operationally desirable it was not financially viable.  In order for the District Council and County Council to adopt the powers required for CPE there were initial set-up costs with an on-going net operating cost per annum that would increase year on year with inflation.

Although the Police would support the application the Police had deprioritised on-street parking enforcement because of the pressure on their resources which suggested that the Police had evaluated that illegal street parking was not a substantial issue.  It was noted that no resources would transfer from the Police to the Council to support the CEA.

The Corporate Director (Services) noted to the Cabinet that during the discussions at the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-being) meeting some Members had expressed concerns about parking issues within their wards.  Further work was to be undertaken to establish the nature and extent of such issue.  However, it was noted that CPE would not necessarily resolve these issues.

The Cabinet fully supported further engagement with the County Council to investigate whether there was a desire to develop a more holistic traffic management strategy for Huntingdonshire.  Whereupon it was,

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

 i.  does not commit to being the County Council’s agent for Civil Parking Enforcement in Huntingdonshire because the case for such powers has not yet been made and such powers are not financially viable.

ii.  agrees that the Parking Service should engage with the County Council about the development of a comprehensive traffic management strategy for Huntingdonshire that includes funding by the County for the infrastructure costs if the strategy proposes a Civil Enforcement Area for the district.

To consider a report on Civil Parking Enforcement, presented by the Interim Head of Operations.

The Executive Member for Commercial Activities introduced the Civil Parking Enforcement report to the Panel. It was explained to the Panel that the report revisits the parking enforcement issue, and makes the case for a more lenient view in the interests of economic development; a stricter regime could be seen to penalise local business owners for example.  The Panel were informed that in practical terms, the cost of Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) far out-weighs the benefits; therefore the recommendation is that it is not taken forward at this stage.

The Interim Head of Operations added that following a lengthy consultancy report, it became clear that although the powers of enforcement and the revenue that it can generate are desirable, a whole new regime of regulations and extensive set up costs would be required.  With no solid business case to support CPE, it is advised that the Council do not adopt it and that it instead works with Cambridgeshire County Council on a broader traffic management plan which has the potential to positively affect parking issues locally.

Members of the Panel questioned whether issues faced locally for residential parking have been taken into account.  The Panel were told that although residential parking is a separate issue at this stage, there are alternative ways of dealing with these issues than heavy enforcement, and working with CCC and the Planning Department to ensure residents are provided with parking can be more effective in the long term. 

A Panel Member asserted that with a lack of Police statistics on unlawful parking, that the issues of local parking had not been considered in full.  In response, the Executive Member for Commercial Activities informed the Members that they acknowledge that further information from the Police would have been useful but the cost justification of CPE remains inadequate with the annual overheads unbearable by the Council in the current economic position.

Members suggested that a report to follow with further, more comprehensive information so that the issue can be seen with further clarity would be advantageous, and also that the CPE decision be reviewed in the future.  This was agreed and will be added to the recommendations to Cabinet.

The Panel agreed that the report be endorsed by Cabinet, with one abstention.