Agenda item

(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 Peers, asked that Church Road in Buckley and Drury Lane in Drury be put forward as possible areas for the pilot scheme.  The Cabinet Member for Environment commented on other suggestions that he had received. 

In response to a comment from Councillor Ian Dunbar about a problem in his ward of parked cars which blocked the road, the Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) advised that CPEOs could only issue a penalty notice if the vehicles were parked illegally and asked Councillor Dunbar to provide him with the details following the meeting.  The Cabinet Member for Environment indicated that unless traffic regulation orders were in place, the CPEOs were unable to issue a penalty notice.  

Councillor Carolyn Thomas referred to the provision of new yellow lines in the County and asked whether CPEOs would issue fines for dropping of litter.  She highlighted paragraph 3.08 where it was reported that the policy on reintroducing car park charges at towns in the County other than Mold, which already charged for parking, may have to be reconsidered in the future.  The Cabinet Member indicated that a report was to be submitted to Cabinet which recommended the introduction of charging for every Council car park across Flintshire.  On the issue of yellow lines, the Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) said that a large number of requests for new road markings had been received and work was ongoing to prioritise the requests. 

Councillor Ann Minshull asked if the CPEOs experienced any language difficulties when dealing with parking issues.  The Parking Services Manager responded that some problems were experienced but the CPEOs had not identified it as a major concern. 

On the issue of the pilot Resident Parking Scheme, Councillor Dave Evans felt that the criteria for the scheme should be sent out to all Councillors to allow them to put forward suggestions in their wards.  The Chief Officer (Streeetscene and Transportation) said that only one scheme would be chosen for the pilot scheme and that Members would have the opportunity to put forward their suggestions for the second phase of the project.  The Cabinet Member for Environment indicated that the report considered at Cabinet had given delegated authority to officers to choose an appropriate area for the pilot scheme and that asking Members for their suggestions at this stage could delay the process.  Councillor Veronica Gay reiterated the request for the criteria to be sent to all Members.  Councillor Evans also requested details of the locations for on and off street parking fines and whether information on parking hotspots was being analysed and whether this would be used to eliminate future problems.  The Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) confirmed that problem areas would be looked at and alternative proposals considered.  He added that the level of detail requested on parking problems could be provided. 

Councillor Chris Dolphin asked if there would be a cost to residents for the Resident Parking Scheme permit.  The Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) confirmed that no proposals for charges had been submitted at this stage but that this would be reviewed once a pilot scheme area had been identified.  Councillor Bateman indicated that a charge of £100 per property was imposed by Chester Council and that 70% of the residents had to agree to participate in the scheme before it could be implemented.   

Councillor Joe Johnson referred to a number of double yellow lines which he did not feel were necessary and asked if the lines would be removed.  The Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) advised that requests for removal or inclusion of traffic markings would be prioritised and necessary consultation would be undertaken.  Councillor Cindy Hinds commented on a problem in her ward, particularly during school start and finish times, where cars parked in an area outside old age pensioner’s bungalows had caused a problem for an ambulance which needed to access a property.  The Cabinet Member for Environment spoke of traffic restriction orders and said that enforcement would be used in areas where the orders were in place but breached. 

In referring to the small number of CPEOs employed by the authority, Councillor Veronica Gay asked how they could deal with the large number of problem areas around schools and asked if consideration had been given to employing CPEOs in partnership with Town and Community Councils to allow them to concentrate on particular areas.  She also referred to the lack of disabled parking areas in Saltney and asked if this was to be reviewed.  The Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) requested that Councillor Gay provide him with the details following the meeting.  

Councillor Peter Curtis referred to parking issues in his ward and said that there was a need for flexibility and common sense approach as some cars were wider than the spaces provided in the car parks.  He sought clarification on the Blue Badge Scheme and was advised by the Parking Services Manager that Flintshire employees would be carrying out the assessments for the badges.  The Chief Officer (Streetscene and Transportation) advised that a report which was to be submitted to a future meeting of Cabinet would provide more details. 

RESOLVED:

(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.