Agenda item

To receive an update on the Civil Parking Enforcement Policy.

The Committee considered a report, set out in agenda pages 17 to 28, which provided an update on the Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) strategy after its first year of enactment. 

Clare Lawrence, Assistant Director – Place, stated that the business case for the CPE was based on a cost neutral arrangement and that the operation had met this assumption after its first year. She added that there had been a number of problems in recruiting Civil Enforcement Officers and that there was currently one vacant post which was actively being recruited for. Clare added that once the posts were fully recruited that hopefully this would allow for the cost neutral operation to continue. Clare stated that the patrols of the Civil Enforcement Officers were updated monthly on the Councils websites should Members or members of the public wish to view where the patrols had been.

Malcolm Richards asked as to the number of Civil Enforcement Officer posts. Geoff Hislop, Car Park Manager, stated that there were 8 posts in total, with 7 currently filled and one post being actively recruited for. He added that there were 6 posts at the 6 month stage of the operation and it was decided to increase this number to 8 posts to have a greater capacity.

Rachel Burgess asked whether the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) had been achieved by the contractor (NSL). Geoff Hislop stated that there had been 5 instances where the KPIs had been missed, and in each case this had been related to correspondence letters being issued. He added that this had resulted in a reduction of payments to NSL. Geoff stated that after liaison with NSL by himself and his team there had been recent improvements in this area.

In response to a Member question about incentives for NSL with regards to the quantity of issued tickets, Geoff Hislop replied that there were no incentives for NSL to issue more tickets than were required.

Rachel Burgess referred to page 27 of the agenda, and asked the Officers opinions on Borough residents not being able to have visitors parking for over 30 minutes under the new electronic permit system. Clare Lawrence stated that the permit system had become electronic under CPE and had replaced a paper permit system. She added that there was still a visitor and carer provision under the new electronic system. Clare stated that there had been a consultation for Rose Street residents in which there was a 51/49 percent split from residents in favour of the electronic system. Clare added that she had liaised with the Executive Member for Highways and Transport regarding the issue and that Members were invited to give their views on the permit system. Clare stated that reverting to paper permits would be a step backwards, and that this system was at a greater cost to the Council and was open to abuse (for example, permits being sold online).

In response to a Member question regarding the Parking Strategy item due to go through Executive, Clare Lawrence stated that the item had been taken off of a previous Executive forward programme due to a capacity issue with the volume of work that Highways were undertaking and that she hoped that the item would go through Executive in the New Year.

In response to Member questions regarding the volume of penalties issued at Dinton Pastures, Geoff Hislop stated that Dinton Pastures was in between Wokingham and the outer Borough and was en route between various other locations that the patrols went through, and as a result the Civil Enforcement Officers would check the car park on their journeys.

Clive Jones asked what the criteria was for deciding where the Civil Enforcement Officers would patrol. Geoff Hislop stated that the Officers worked shift patterns, and that there was always a patrol (between 7am and 10pm) occurring within Wokingham. He added that another Officer would be on patrol on foot within the Borough and another on Patrol in a vehicle.   

Clive Jones asked whether Officers were aware of a petition from Earley residents for a permanent Civil Enforcement Officers patrolling in the area. Clare Lawrence stated that they were aware of the petition and that they had been working with local schools and the My Journey team to identify and resolve issues. She added that if Earley Town Council (or any other Town or Parish Council within the Borough) wanted more support with CPE that they were encouraged to contact the team and see whether more support could be available should they want to buy in to it. Clare stated that Earley had not been identified as an area which needed more support than other similar areas within the Borough.

Mike Haines asked as to the vast difference in penalties issued at Dinton Pastures compared to California Country Park. Geoff Hislop clarified that the car park at California Country Park had been undergoing refurbishment and as a result many of the enforcement regulations had been suspended during this time.

Malcolm Richards asked as to the timeframe between ordering a new car parking ticket machine and it then being deployed. Geoff Hislop stated that it was a 12 week period between ordering the machine and it being received, and that the machine would then be installed alongside any others that had been ordered (in order to replace existing damaged and malfunctioning machines) on a rolling deployment plan.

Guy Grandison asked how many complaints regarding the process of enforcement were received regularly. Geoff Hislop stated that approximately 4 to 6 complaints were received per month, and that these usually focussed on the restrictions that were in place (or conversely, where people believed more restrictions should be put in place).

Clive Jones asked at which times of the day that the most penalties had been generally issued. Geoff Hislop stated that he would gather the data and circulate it to the Committee.

In response to a Member question regarding the number of cars compared to lorries that had received penalties, Geoff Hislop stated that he could gather a definitive list of issued penalties and would circulate it to the Committee.

RESOLVED That:

1)    Clare Lawrence and Geoff Hislop be thanked for attending the meeting;

2)    the update on Civil Parking Enforcement be noted;

3)    information and data requested by the Committee be sent to Democratic Services and circulated to Committee Members.