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Parking Services Update

Meeting: 07/10/2020 - Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee (Item 224)

224 Parking Services Update pdf icon PDF 127 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Parking Services Manager introduced the report which highlighted the actions taken in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Parking restrictions were relaxed until 1 July 2020, as many residents did not have parking permits, as they would usually be out of the area during the restricted parking period. There were cases of overcrowding, restricted traffic flow and dangerously parked vehicles.

 

To reduce the on-street parking demand, car park facilities were extended to permit holders. The restrictions and tariffs remained in place for normal users during this time period. Incidents of dangerous parking were dealt with by the enforcement team through an initial advisory notice placed on the car and then through a Penalty Notice Charge (PNC). Enforcement teams were deployed alongside refuse collectors to target areas of consistent difficulty, with 1500 letter hand-delivered to residents on the worst affected roads. Specific advice had been given to the Council’s enforcement team.

 

The Department for Transport (DFT) had an ongoing consultation on pavement parking enforcement proposals. If approved, these measures would allow civil enforcement officers to act against pavement obstructions and could be introduced in 2021. The Committee would be kept updated of any changes made.

 

The Parking Services Manager highlighted that as the necessary changes to software and signage production had not taken place prior to 1 April 2020, the increased parking tariffs had not been implemented. This was due to the contractors and supplier’s employees being furloughed.

 

In response to queries, it was confirmed that emissions-based charges would not be implemented as the technology required to make a real-time link between a vehicle and the DVLA Databases did not exist. It was expected that this technology would be achieved in the near future. The Committee expressed thanks to the team for their hard work during the lockdown period.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

1.  The update and information relating to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on parking operations, including the financial implications, be noted; and

 

2.  The planned parking tariff increase be deferred until the annual fees and charges review in January 2021.