Issue - meetings

(a)       That the progress of the CPE Service in the first year since its launch be noted; and 

(b)       That a further report providing feedback on the pilot Residents Parking Scheme is brought to a future meeting once a full evaluation has taken place.                             

The Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) introduced the report to provide Members with an update on the progress of the Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) arrangements since the launch of the service in October 2013.  He introduced Joanna Jones, the Parking Services Manager to the Committee.     

The Parking Services Manager detailed the background to the report and explained that five Civil Parking Enforcement Officers (CPEO) were employed by the Council.  The CPEOs worked a flexible 37 hour week with a Summer/Winter shift pattern which covered seven days of the week.  They were provided with personal video monitoring equipment and they carried a lone working personal safety device.  The Police had been required to provide assistance to deal with verbal abuse from members of the public on three occasions, one of which was still ongoing. 

The daily routes of the CPEOs were created from information/complaints gathered from Councillors, Police, Headteachers and members of the public and every effort was made to ensure that where possible each town in the County was visited each week? .  Specific problem areas were patrolled more regularly and this included patrols around schools at the start and end of the school day.  The income received from on-street enforcement was allocated within the CPE financial model to offset associated costs and it was important to ensure that the model was sustainable and reported a break-even financial position on an annual basis.  The Parking Services Manager also referred to the Wales Penalty Processing Partnership (WPPP) which was hosted by Denbighshire County Council to process the penalty notices that were issued.  There had been a significant increase in usage in all car parks across the County over the past year and the number of penalty notices had fallen in certain areas. 

The Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) advised that it was proposed that a pilot Resident Parking Scheme be introduced in an area of the County, which had not yet been identified, where such parking problems were currently being experienced.  A report would be submitted to this Committee on the outcome of the pilot scheme once it had been completed to establish whether the scheme would be rolled out across the County.  He also advised that a report on the Blue Badge scheme was to be submitted to Cabinet in November 2014 with details on the assessment criteria and the proposals of the service by the CPEOs. 

Councillor Haydn Bateman thanked the Parking Services Manager for the report.  He sought clarification on how prevention of parking on grass verges and pavements was being undertaken.  The Parking Services Manager explained that CPEOs could only issue a penalty notice if there was a traffic restriction in place in front of the vehicle and that it would be a matter for the Police if a traffic restriction was not in place.  On the issue of the location for the pilot Resident Parking Scheme, Councillor Bateman suggested that Stanley Street in Mold be considered.  Councillor Dave Mackie, on behalf of Councillor Mike  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26